Charles Leclerc details "very special" Antarctica trip ahead of 2026 F1 prep

Charles Leclerc has detailed his upcoming trip to Antarctica with his fiancée, Alexandra Saint Mleux.

The Ferrari Formula 1 driver is looking to recharge his batteries after a difficult 2025 season. As the Maranello outfit finished the season fourth in the constructors' standings with 398 points, Leclerc and his team-mate Lewis Hamilton finished fifth and sixth in the drivers' standings.

"So I'm doing a very, very special trip," the Monegasque driver explained when asked how he will recharge ahead of the 2026 season in a video with Ferrari partner, UniCredit.

"I'm going to Antarctica. So, that's going to be one way of recharging the batteries. Obviously, there will be a lot of training there, but not only to learn more about that very special place in the world and various different things that I'm really looking forward to understanding a bit more and to get more insight into what it's like on site.

"So we're looking forward to that. And then obviously lots of preparation as soon as I'm back in Maranello for the new year. Lots of simulator and work in order to get ready for the season ahead."

Leclerc finished the season in Abu Dhabi with fourth place behind race winner Max Verstappen and McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. 

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Photo by: Clive Mason / Getty Images

"I gave it everything and our team executed the race perfectly. Unfortunately, P4 was all there was in it for us today," he said after the race. "I really wanted to finish the season on a high, bringing home a podium for everyone, and I was close to Lando in a few moments of the race, but it was not enough to make a pass.

"Congratulations to Lando for his first title. He has been doing an incredible job of driving this year and it’s fully deserved. A huge thank you to our whole team, both at the track and at home in Italy, for all the hard work put in this year, as well as our Tifosi for their ongoing support. It’s been a tough season for us.

"Next season is still a blank slate, and we don’t know where the other teams stand, so we don’t have any real expectations yet. After this week, we will head back to Maranello to regroup, and our job will be to focus all our efforts on preparing for the season ahead as best as we can."