Formula 1 returns this weekend, but it's not just the on-track action that has everyone talking, as Charles Leclerc created headlines after secretly marrying his partner, Alexandra Saint Mleux.
The Ferrari driver didn't announce his wedding, but he and Alexandra were seen driving off following the ceremony in a car worth £9 million. In the days after the service, the happy couple have shared several insights into their civil wedding, which only featured their families, and adorable pet dog, Leo.
In footage shot from the wedding, the couple could be seen giggling as Charles struggled to put the ring on his bride, before sharing a passionate kiss. In a separate post, the F1 star posted: "A day we'll forever remember. Part one is done and part 2 will be next year with all of our close ones."
Alexandra also shared some stunning snaps of their wedding day, which saw the happy couple on a balcony, joined by Leo as he peeked through gaps in the stone pillars.
Understandably, when he arrived at the F1 paddock, the 28-year-old was grilled about his major life milestone, confirming that he now had a platinum band. "Obviously, it was one of those days that I'll forever remember," he told journalists.
"And same for Alex, and same for our family. It was family only and was very small and secret in a way, which we really enjoyed." He then clarified that the civil service wouldn't be his only wedding, adding: "We will do another one with all of our closest friends, in actually quite a bit of time, just to take some time to organise it properly. But it's been good.
"I mean, it's been obviously an amazing day and [I] took a lot of positivity on the flight because I went straight to fly here in Melbourne. So still very happy, and the excitement of the wedding and the excitement of starting the race tomorrow as well."
Charles also confirmed that due to his F1 commitments, the newlyweds haven't yet been able to have their honeymoon.
Charles and Alexandra's relationship
The newlyweds were first linked in March 2023, with Charles confirming the relationship just two months later during an interview with Gala France. However, at the time, the driver only confirmed he was "off the market" without directly naming Alexandra.
It was another two months before the couple made their first joint outing, where they were seen in the audience at Wimbledon, with the pair cheering on Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz.
© Kym IllmanOn 2 November, Charles confirmed their engagement and gave an insight into his romantic proposal. He popped the question in a candlelit setting surrounded by a sea of red rose petals shaped into a heart.
At a press conference held ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix, Charles opened up about his partner, saying: "Alex is the closest person that I have, with my family. And they live the career just like we do, the ups and the downs, and they support us in the best possible way. And Alex has done that since the very first day I met her, so, yeah, she's definitely a very important part of my life, obviously, but also of my career and the way you manage the ups and downs.
