Happy birthday and big questions: Charles Leclerc celebrates amid Sprint weekend and future plans

Happy birthday and big questions: Charles Leclerc celebrates amid Sprint weekend and future plans. Charles Leclerc celebrates his 28th birthday at the Austin Grand Prix paddock.

Yesterday, Charles Leclerc enjoyed all the attention in the Austin Grand Prix paddock, as the media day coincided with his 28th birthday. Among the various questions from journalists and fans, there were plenty of birthday wishes, cakes, candles (some half-blown out), and even cowboy hats — a lighthearted moment before diving fully into the intense weekend shaped by the Sprint format.The weekend marks the final rush of six races that Lewis Hamilton described as “just tests for 2026.” Ferrari finds itself in a challenging situation, where a race win seems like a distant dream, and the focus is primarily on preparing for the new car cycle next season. “The Sprint weekend always offers many opportunities, but it also comes with risks, because if you start off on the wrong foot, everything becomes more difficult. The team is very good at preparing the car and finding the right window. Then it will also depend on the performance of the others; we know we are a bit behind them,” Charles Leclerc explained.

Despite these challenges, for his birthday he expressed the same wish he had 12 months ago — a wish that had brought him luck in the past. “I want two victories, one in the Sprint and one on Sunday. But realistically, just a good weekend where we put everything together,” he added, showing his focus and ambition even amidst a difficult season.