Courtside moments, awards, and side quests – The life of F1 drivers away from the grid before Vegas

As the end of the 2025 season looms, the drivers are heading for a bold and action-packed weekend at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit – and the energy is already building. After the thrills and drama of Sao Paulo, the grid took a brief moment to recover, reset, and let their hair down before diving back into the final three races to end the season strong.

Whilst some stayed off-grid to focus on final prep work, some drivers showed that it’s just as important to let off steam and have a balanced break – proving that even in the midst of a title fight, there’s always room for a little fun, relaxation, and the occasional unexpected adventure!

Kimi x Jannik Sinner

Fresh from his best-ever Grand Prix result in Sao Paulo and before jetting off to Vegas, Kimi Antonelli squeezed in a trip to Turin to watch the highly anticipated ATP Finals. The Mercedes rookie went to support F1 Ambassador and fellow Italian Jannik Sinner, who was playing in the season finale against world number one Carlos Alcaraz.

Antonelli joined in the celebrations as Sinner clinched the title, and the pair even had time to snap a quick photo before Kimi set off for the final triple header of the year. He’ll be hoping to carry a bit of that winning energy with him!

Side quests galore for Charles

One driver that is really itching to make the most of his final week off before the season climax is Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari man, fresh off his heartwarming engagement announcement before Sao Paulo, has clearly been busy in the run up to Las Vegas, including launching his new lifestyle merchandise!

Amid the wedding planning, Leclerc unveiled his latest collection with an eye-catching promo video featuring fiancée Alexandra Saint Mleux and their dog, Leo, both proudly modelling the new gear. And judging by Leo’s enthusiasm, it definitely gets his seal of approval!

As if that wasn’t enough excitement for one week, Leclerc and Alexandra also squeezed in a night at the opera before taking a group of friends to Universal Studios in LA. It’s no secret that the Monegasque loves a good costume moment (banana suit, anyone?), so it was no surprise to see him roaming the park in a Mario hat, with Alexandra matching the vibe in a Yoshi one.

Piastri winning awards

In a week where F1 The Album was nominated for three awards at the Grammys, Oscar Piastri enjoyed his own successes. In a post from the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, it was announced that Piastri was the recipient of 'The Don’ award – a major accolade celebrating the athlete who’s inspired the country the most – not a bad addition to his ever-growing trophy cabinet!

Lando raiding the NFL

Championship leader Lando Norris dived head-first into US culture by enjoying an exciting evening out watching the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite their loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Norris was all smiles, and with the Las Vegas Strip Circuit only a short drive away, it doubled as the perfect warm-up for the wild energy the city is known for during race week!

Nico and Gabi meeting their 2026 challenger

Over in Munich, Audi offered the first look at their 2026 livery concept, and team mates Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto were among the first to see it up close. Both drivers took to social media to share their excitement as the brand gears up for its full-works debut in a few months' time.

With major regulation changes on the horizon, Audi’s early design signals a bold new identity for the current Kick Sauber team – and anticipation is already building for the full unveiling early in 2026, when fans will finally see the machine that marks the start of Audi’s new era in Formula 1.