At Port Hercules, a completely different set of rules applies during the Monaco Grand Prix. The boats moored along the quayside attract almost as much attention as anything happening on the track. This year, one boat, belonging to Max Verstappen, is particularly noteworthy.
The yacht was named Unleash the Lion , is a Mangusta GranSport 33 model built by Italian shipbuilder Overmarine and delivered in 2025.
Moored in the turquoise harbor of Monaco, the vessel makes a statement even before you read the inscription on the stern: "UNLEASH THE LION" in glossy silver letters, with a stylized Verstappen lion logo centered between the words. The listed port of registry is "VALLETTA," denoting the vessel's registration in the capital of Malta. The dark charcoal exterior, tinted windows, and warm teak accents on the swim platform give it an understated yet formidable appeal that bespeaks wealth without having to shout about it.
Supermax. Superyacht.
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Walking next to Verstappen's $15,000,000 "Unleash The Lion" car to appreciate its sheer size. pic.twitter.com/l2diGmAA8T
— Motorsport (@Motorsport) June 5, 2026.
What are you really looking at?
At 33 metres long (just over 109 feet), the GranSport 33 combines performance-focused engineering with serious comfort.
It is one of the first large vessels to be equipped with the Volvo Penta IPS1350 system, which provides a top speed of 26 knots, as well as reduced fuel consumption and improved maneuverability.
The yacht accommodates 12 guests in five cabins, and a crew of five ensures smooth operations. The deck layout is focused on outdoor recreation, with a spacious sundeck, a beach club, and several outdoor seating areas.
Verstappen placed his order two years before receiving the boat, and it is estimated to have cost over £10 million, which equates to approximately $12-15 million depending on the manufacturer and level of customization. Paddock insider and Formula 1 photographer Kim Illman estimates annual maintenance costs at over $1.2 million—running costs that most people don't spend on their home.
Verstappen picked up the yacht from the Overmarine shipyard in the Italian port city of Viareggio, accompanied by his partner Kelly Piquet, and then named it Unleash the Lion – a phrase that has become closely associated with his personal brand over the years.
The same initials, UTL, appear on his private jet, a Dassault Falcon 8X, registration PH-UTL.
The yacht features several visible decks—the main deck, the upper deck with stainless steel railings, and a sundeck on the flybridge—and the bow has a sharp, aggressive profile that becomes clear when you know who owns it. Whether Verstappen will spend much time on it during the race weekend is another matter entirely.