Inside the 73m superyacht F1 winner Lando Norris called home during the Monaco Grand Prix

Formula One meets superyacht glamour each year during the Monaco Grand Prix, when the world’s elite descend on Port Hercules to soak up the action from the decks of the most spectacular private and charter yachts afloat. This year, one of the standout vessels in the harbour was Coral Ocean – the 72.6-metre Lürssen superyacht that became home base for the McLaren team and its sponsors, with driver Lando Norris and fellow McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri spotted on board during race week.

Originally delivered in 1994 and refitted extensively in 2022, Coral Ocean is one of the German shipyard's most historically significant builds. Designed by the late godfather of design – Jon Bannenberg – she was ahead of her time with an innovative layout, hidden balconies and one of the first dedicated wellness centres at sea. But it’s her modern-day transformation and the superyacht lifestyle she now offers that make her worthy of pole position.

BOAT explores the yacht that hosted the McLaren team at the 2025 F1 Monaco Grand Prix.

A €35 million refit that transformed her identity

When Australian entrepreneur Ian Malouf purchased Coral Ocean in 2019, he set out to overhaul the classic yacht while preserving the Bannenberg DNA. The result? A €35 million rebuild, masterminded in Palma de Mallorca, which added 150GT to her volume and reimagined two-and-a-half decks from scratch. Her once-yellow hull is now a gleaming white, and much of the tribal-themed interior has given way to clean lines, natural textures and a brighter, airier aesthetic courtesy of British studio H2 Yacht Design. Fittingly, Coral Ocean made her post-refit debut at the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix – making the 2025 edition the perfect platform to host the F1 drivers.

A party-ready sundeck with a glass-bottom spa pool

The sundeck is often the beating heart of the action during a high-profile charter – and Coral Ocean delivers. The former plunge pool was replaced with a striking glass-bottom spa pool, set against frameless glass balustrades that maximise sea views. With a fully stocked bar, oversized sunpads and an upper saloon that opens completely to the elements, it’s the ideal spot for a front-row seat to the Grand Prix. During the refit, the upper saloon was originally going to be a gymnasium but that was quickly changed, resulting in an upper saloon that's double the size of what the gym would have been.

The skylit owner’s suite offering panoramic views

Befitting of a Formula One Grand Prix champion, the owner’s deck is a true sanctuary. A supersized bed by Hästens faces floor-to-ceiling windows with 180-degree views, while two skylights – one above the bed, the other looking up into the spa pool – bathe the space with light. The impressive suite is a clear indication that no detail was overlooked in the refit.

A VIP suite that rivals most master cabins

On the lower deck, the full-beam VIP cabin could easily be mistaken for an owner’s suite on another yacht. It comes with a private lounge that doubles as an office and cinema – ideal for athletes like Norris looking for downtime between appearances – and all four guest cabins are generously sized and filled with natural light.

Crew flow and service as top priorities

Malouf, also founder of digital charter platform Ahoy Club, knew that five-star service relies on excellent crew infrastructure. Hidden pantries, built-in cabinetry and discreet crew routes were carefully integrated into the design. According to the team behind the rebuild, creating a service-friendly environment without sacrificing guest space was one of the project’s defining challenges.

From race cars to superyachts

With its high-performance engineering, radical transformation and commanding presence in Monaco’s most exclusive harbour, Coral Ocean became the ultimate Grand Prix party pad and shares more than a few parallels with the F1 world itself. A testament to timeless design, bold reinvention and the lifestyle that comes with running at full throttle – on land and at sea.