What attracts Verstappen and Hamilton to Monaco: and which drivers it repels

Verstappen has lived in Monaco since 2015. For a long time, the four-time world champion resided in the Fontvieille district, but he has since moved to Le Renzo, one of the most exclusive residential buildings in the new Mareterra district. Prices for apartments in the complex range from around €65 million to well over €77 million.

There are, however, outliers: in the same building, a residence was sold for a reported €471 million, which, according to various media outlets, would be the most expensive home sale ever. The residence spans five floors and includes, among other things, 21 rooms, a private pool, a jacuzzi, and eight parking spaces.

The building where Verstappen lives turns out to be a popular residential destination. Charles Leclerc also lives in the same building. According to the Ferrari driver, Fernando Alonso is also said to have settled there, although this has never been officially confirmed by the two-time world champion himself. Alonso also owns a large villa in his hometown of Oviedo, where his museum and karting circuit are located.

The seven-time world champion has also been one of Monaco's well-known residents for years. However, he hasn't put all his eggs in the principality's basket, as he also owns properties in London, New York, and Colorado, among other places.

Lando Norris, George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Alexander Albon, Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Nico Hulkenberg also live in the principality.

For a number of drivers, the move is relatively recent. Oliver Bearman swapped Maranello for Monaco ahead of his first full Formula 1 season. Before that, the Brit lived close to the Italian team’s factory as a Ferrari junior. Franco Colapinto still calls Buenos Aires home, but is said to have also moved to Monaco in 2026 after securing a full-time seat at Alpine.

Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez also live in the principality. Both also maintain a strong connection to their home countries. Bottas owns properties in Finland and Australia, while Perez also has a home in Mexico. The Mexican stayed there for an extended period during his gap year.

Many drivers naturally keep to themselves where their place is. It is known, however, that Fontvieille was particularly popular among F1 drivers for many years. The brand-new Mareterra, where Verstappen and Leclerc live, is now also attracting more and more wealthy residents.

There are several reasons why so many Formula 1 drivers choose to live in Monaco. The best-known is the favorable tax climate: residents of the principality generally do not pay income tax. For drivers with multimillion-euro incomes, that can naturally make a significant difference.

But Monaco offers advantages beyond the financial picture. The principality is known for its safety and privacy. Moreover, Nice Airport is nearby and many European Grands Prix are relatively easy to reach. For drivers who are on the road almost all year, Monaco is therefore also a practically attractive home base.

While 16 of the 22 drivers may have a home in Monaco, the other six have consciously or for practical reasons chosen a different place to live. Kimi Antonelli lives in San Marino, not far from his birthplace of Bologna. Like Monaco, the microstate offers an attractive tax climate.

Esteban Ocon has chosen Geneva as his home base, and Lance Stroll is also said to live in Switzerland. The country has long been popular among wealthy athletes and entrepreneurs. Pierre Gasly, on the other hand, lives in Milan, while Verstappen’s teammate, Isack Hadjar, lives in his hometown of Paris.

There is a logical explanation for why Gasly, Ocon, and Hadjar do not live in Monaco. Due to the tax treaty between France and Monaco, French citizens generally do not benefit from the same advantages as many foreign residents of the principality. For them, moving to Monaco is therefore much less attractive financially.

Arvid Lindblad may have the most unexpected place of residence of them all. The Racing Bulls driver lives just outside Lisbon in Portugal and stated in the summer of 2026 that he has no desire to move to Monaco for the time being. For Lindblad, the reasoning has little to do with tax benefits or travel times. He wants to keep his private life as separate as possible from Formula 1 and therefore consciously chooses to live in a quiet place where he won't be recognized on a daily basis or run into his colleagues.