The Scene in Monaco
Published on 6 Jun 2009 at 1:08 am.
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Filed under Internet Sports Resources, The Races, Wheelers.
On my way in I passed a series of posters on the wall which stopped me in my tracks; they are Marlboro adverts. You get so used to not seeing any kind of tobacco advertising any more that so see these bold posters of a tattoed Kimi Raikkonen with his car really grab you. They have a fantastic train service here with double decker trains whizzing you along the coastline. Monaco railway station is a 10 minute walk from the paddock and the media centre.
I think part of it is the being seen to do the right thing aspect. A lot of sponsors take big boats here normally, but in the current climate they dont want to be seen to be living it up.
Ironically the team bosses have their boats here, like Flavio Briatore, whos Force Blue is playing host to Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Alesi this weekend.
This is Monaco, a law unto itself.
I stopped at the market this morning on the way in. Chatting to locals it seems that everything in F1 online is 20% down this year; ticket sales, hotel bookings, restaurants etc. Id say that extends to boats in the harbour. There are some nice ones out there, but not the megas we have seen in recent years.
