F1 drivers kick off Monaco race week on the football pitch

40

Local hero Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly - Formula 1's holy trinity - kicked off their race week in Monaco on Tuesday by taking part in H.S.H. Prince Albert's traditional charity football match.

The event, organized by Prince Albert's Star Team for Children association, brought together drivers and various sporting personalities in a spirit of camaraderie.

And the drivers prevailed, 4-3, as Leclerc and his colleagues showcased their skills on the pitch, although Sainz suffered an early retreat due to a leg injury.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.