Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was forced to cancel a new year\u2019s trip to Antarctica after his boat developed a \u201ctechnical problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leclerc endured a frustrating F1 2025 season with Ferrari, suffering a second winless campaign in three years.<\/p>\n
Charles Leclerc \u2018cancels\u2019 new year plans after \u2018technical problem\u2019<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n The 28-year-old comfortably outscored teammate Lewis Hamilton by 86 points and came away with a total of seven podium finishes and a single pole position, achieved at the Hungarian Grand Prix.<\/p>\n Leclerc had a better year away from the track, becoming engaged to his long-term partner Alexandra Saint Mleux.<\/p>\n However, it has emerged that 2025 ended on a sour note for Leclerc, who was forced to cancel a trip to the South Pole.<\/p>\n F1 2026 A crucial season for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari<\/p>\n F1 driver contracts: What is the contract status of every driver on the F1 2026 grid?<\/a><\/p>\n F1 drivers and their partners: Who are the grid currently dating or married to?<\/a><\/p>\n Leclerc had intended to hold his new year\u2019s celebrations in Antarctica, but an issue with his boat meant he had to drop his plans at short notice.<\/p>\n In a post to social media to mark the new year, Leclerc said of 2025: \u201cA very good year off the track. A very difficult year on the track.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you so much to all of you that follows and supports me throughout the ups and downs.<\/p>\n \u201cCount on me to give absolutely everything for 2026 for us to have more wins and success on the track.<\/p>\n \u201cEnjoy the holidays and see you next year.<\/p>\n \u201c(don\u2019t wait for Antarctica pictures \u2013 technical problem on the boat means everything was cancelled 3 days ago)\u201d<\/p>\n The post has been \u2018liked\u2019 by almost four million accounts at the time of writing, with Hamilton and Alpine driver Pierre Gasly among those to show their support.<\/p>\n Leclerc\u2019s latest misfortune comes as Ferrari\u2019s preparations for the new season intensify.<\/p>\n The Scuderia announced last month that its 2026 car \u2013 codenamed Project 678 \u2013 will be launched on January 23, three days before the start of F1\u2019s behind-closed-doors test in Barcelona.<\/p>\n Although five days of testing will be held at the Spanish Grand Prix venue across January 26-30, each team will be restricted to just three days of running.<\/p>\n As reported by PlanetF1.com in November<\/a>, Project 678 is expected to feature a pushrod suspension layout at both the front and rear of the car with Red Bull expected to take the same development route with the new RB22 car.<\/p>\n It is set to be the first Ferrari F1 car to feature a pushrod rear suspension since the F10, driven in competition by Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, in 2010.<\/p>\n Several teams are expected to turn to a pushrod suspension in 2026, with the move away from ground-effect machinery helping to facilitate the change.<\/p>\n A pushrod suspension is also more favourable in terms of the packaging of the complex new power unit compared to the previous pullrod layout.<\/p>\n Leclerc signed a long-term extension to his Ferrari contract ahead of the 2024 season having originally joined the team in 2019.<\/p>\n Speaking at the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi, however, he warned that the 2026 campaign could have significant ramifications for his future<\/a>\u00a0at Maranello.<\/p>\n He told PlanetF1.com and other media outlets:\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s tough, but at the same time, I think the whole team is hugely motivated for next year.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause it\u2019s such a big change, a huge opportunity to show what Ferrari is capable of and it\u2019s now or never.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I really hope that we will start this new era on the right foot, because it\u2019s important for the four years after.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n