‘I've lived in Monaco six months – you won't believe how often I see F1 stars'
Jake Dennis has long competed against some of the best Formula 1 has to offer - and after seeing the success of his friends in Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, he recently made the move to Monaco
Formula E champion Jake Dennis has joined the ranks of racing elites like Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc by setting up home in Monaco, yet he's keen to debunk myths about life in the famed tax haven. The Andretti ace, who clinched the Formula E title in 2023, grew up on the tracks battling current Formula One stars such as Leclerc, George Russell, and Alex Albon.
Despite not competing in an official F1 Grand Prix, Dennis has been integral to Red Bull's efforts as a development and simulator driver since 2018, culminating in a run during FP1 at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where he clocked in as the 16th fastest.
Hailing from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Dennis made the leap to Monaco, joining other motorsport giants like Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris who enjoy the benefits of residing in the principality, known for its tax advantages. It was in late 2024 that Dennis made his move to the South of France, the Express reports.
The 29-year-old racer shared his initial reservations about relocating from England to Monaco, influenced by his past visits there during racing events. "To be honest, I was a little bit hesitant to move there," Dennis revealed.
"I've lived there now for almost six months. Every time I had gone for the Formula E race, I was always thinking like, 'oh, it's definitely not for me, I don't really like it'. I always expected it to give me something every time I went there.
"So every time I left the race, I was a bit underwhelmed by it, there's nothing to do. Whereas actually, it's great. Since moving there, accepting that it's my new lifestyle and I've actually got an apartment, I moved my girlfriend there, my dog, I accept it a lot more and I've actually really enjoyed it. It's a nicer experience. The weather's incredible the whole time."
With its exclusive image and less than 39,000 permanent residents as of 2023, one might think Monaco streets are teeming with F1 talents, however Dennis pointed out just how rare those sightings are. He divulged: "You don't, really. I haven't seen a single F1 driver there yet. I don't think they're there all that often.
"There's obviously a fair amount of supercars flying around, but I think in the summer it's going to be a little bit different, a lot more tourists and stuff like that, but I'll probably try and get out of Monaco at that stage, especially as the [Formula E] season finishes. But ultimately it's been a real nice change and I'm kind of glad that I've moved out of the UK and somewhere like Monaco."
While F1 stars might be a rare sight on Monaco's streets, the Brit often spots his Formula E peers around town. "I've seen Antonio Giovinazzi quite a bit," he revealed. "He's floating around in the streets quite a bit and then I've seen a lot of, honestly, the Formula E drivers, like Max Gunther, Nick Cassidy, Mitch Evans.
"I've gotten along really well with Nick since moving there. We have a lot of things in common, we play golf all the time together, so with him it's a little bit different. We're always seeing each other and linking up, training and stuff like that.
"In terms of the Formula 1 side, I think these guys are so busy now and they're never home. So I think if they ever are home, they probably don't want to be out in the streets getting mobbed by the fans."
Currently, Dennis is in fifth place in the Drivers' Championship with 56 points, still chasing his first Grand Prix win of the season, while compatriot Oliver Rowland leads with a hefty 161 points and four victories under his belt.
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