It’s a scene that feels plucked straight from a Hollywood heist movie — only art imitated life a little too closely. In May 2004, Formula 1 descended on the principality of Monaco for its annual display of speed, opulence and wealth, but one glittering object stood out above all else: a $300,000 diamond on the nose cone of Jaguar’s car. What could go wrong?
The massive rock - which disappeared during the Grand Prix - was part of an outlandish marketing stunt that resulted in one of the sport’s most bizarre unsolved mysteries. At the time, Jaguar Racing - which was owned by Ford - was underperforming, and desperately clinging to anything that would help them maintain relevance.
