This has been a very special week for Charles Leclerc, as he explained in the FIA press conference for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. “I’m very happy to have announced that Alex and I are officially engaged. She is an essential part of my life and I think it was the right moment. What would I like to do to celebrate it? To finish on the podium in Interlagos,” he joked.

Unfinished business. Indeed, Leclerc has some unfinished business when it comes to the José Carlos Pace circuit. “It’s one of my favourite non-street circuits and yet I’ve never managed to finish on the podium,” he said. “And that’s despite the fact that on more than one occasion, we clearly had what it took to finish in the top three (especially in 2019 and 2023, Editor’s note). We are here off the back of some good results with two consecutive podiums from the last races,” continued the Monegasque. “And we want to keep that going. Once again, I reckon it will be fought out to the thousandths of a second, up against the usual rivals.”

Three-way fight for second place. Scuderia Ferrari HP currently lies second in the Constructors’ championship, one point ahead of Mercedes and ten in front of Red Bull, and the short term goal is to keep that position. “The gaps are so small that there’s no point talking about the standings. We are all at the same level, but we will try our best to bring it home,” affirmed Charles. Asked if he would swap a guaranteed second place for a race win, Charles hesitated for a moment before replying, “that’s really hard to answer. A win is always a win, but the team’s goal is to finish second. Put it this way, hopefully we’ll be in a position to go for a win without having to take risks and that way everyone will be happy,” he concluded with a smile.