Lewis Hamilton wins Monaco Grand Prix as celebrities enjoy glamorous race day

Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium with the trophy after securing the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon [Courtesy]

Famous faces from all over the globe turned out in force to watch Lewis Hamilton dig deep to win an emotionally-charged Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Monte Carlo showpiece is the standout race on the Formula One calendar, an event known for its glitz and glamour.

And this year’s edition was no different, with Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti one of the lucky ones to get his hands on the hottest ticket in town.

Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti one of the lucky ones to get his hands on the hottest ticket in town [Courtesy]

The Italian midfielder was seen arriving in the F1 paddock with French model Cindy Bruna, while NFL superstar Odell Beckham Jr also soaked up the pre-race atmosphere.

NFL superstar Odell Beckham Jr also soaked up the pre-race atmosphere [Courtesy]

And they watched on as Hamilton romped to victory in Monte Carlo, a triumph that is a fitting tribute to the late Niki Lauda who passed away this week.

The British star, too upset to speak to the media earlier this week following the death of Lauda, had to dig deep to seal his third win in Monte Carlo and extend his lead at the top of the standings.

By Monaco's standards, it was an entertaining showdown with plenty of on-track tussles, and Hamilton endured a nervy finale on ageing tyres.

While it was a memorable day for the Brit, in the end, his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas saw his race ruined after an unsafe release from Red Bull in the pit lane ultimately led to Max Verstappen causing damage to Finn's car.

Bottas wasn't the only one to endure a tough afternoon, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc suffering a miserable race in front of his home support for the second year in a row.

The 21-year-old, who crashed out of the Monte Carlo showdown in his Sauber last year, had it all to do after a woeful qualifying saw him start 15th on the grid on Sunday.

(L to R): Tommy Hilfiger; Dee Hilfiger; Kris Jenner; Corey Gamble [Courtesy]

And, despite making up early ground including a fine move on Haas' Romain Grosjean, his attempt to get ahead of Renault's Nico Hulkenberg ultimately ruined his race.

Leclerc bumped into the barriers after being squeezed by Hulkenberg, suffering a puncture that ultimately damaged his car to the extent that Ferrari retired him from the race.

And while Leclerc will want to forget this race in a hurry, Hamilton will saviour it after securing the win he craved.

Meanwhile, Mercedes will keep a red star on their cars as a permanent remembrance of triple world champion Lauda, the team's non-executive chairman who died last Monday.

A red three-pointed star on the engine cover was one of several on-car tributes to the Austrian at Sunday's race, with the 'halo' head protection device painted red as a reference to Lauda's familiar red cap.

"Niki we miss you," was written on top of the halo, while the nose of the car bears Lauda's signature.

The Austrian, who was 70, wore a red cap to cover the burns sustained in a fiery 1976 crash at the Nurburgring which almost cost him his life.

The then-Ferrari driver, a two-times Monaco Grand Prix winner, returned within weeks and battled James Hunt for the championship, losing out that year but winning again in 1977 and 1984.

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