Charles Leclerc spoke to the press in the Scuderia Ferrari HP hospitality, while outside a kaleidoscope of colour was reflected in the puddles on the paddock floor, the aftermath of heavy earlier rainfall which is certainly an unusual sight in this city that sits on the edge of the desert. He began by lightening the mood with a joke: “I know you all want to know if I’ll take advantage of the Las Vegas race to get married, but I’ll tell you straight away, no,” he laughed. “Alex and I prefer to do things at the right time…”

Ambition and cohesion. Many of the questions focused on events after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix and Charles offered this explanation: “The president is a very ambitious person who wants what’s best for Ferrari and expects everyone to always give their very best. We’re in touch very often and we spoke last week as well. His words were a call to work together and stay united, and I believe we’re all aligned on that. Obviously, I can’t wait to get in the car, give it my best shot and try to take Ferrari back to where we all want it to be, the very top step of the podium.”

Pitfalls and opportunities. Winning in Las Vegas is a legitimate ambition for Charles, given that in 2023, he started from pole position here and finished second, only just missing out on the win. But the Monegasque was also realistic in assessing prospects for the weekend: “This season, in low temperatures, we have often struggled more than others,” he said. “So looking at the weather forecast, we’re not starting out as favourites. But this is also the last street circuit race of the season and one of my favourites, and as always when you race between the walls, additional opportunities can present themselves. That will be our goal for the weekend, and I can’t wait to get out on track in the SF-25 to see what cards we’ve been dealt for this weekend’s game.”