Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc announces engagement ahead of Sao Paulo race

SAO PAULO (AP) — Charles Leclerc was all smiles at a news conference ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, where a good result could get him closer to fourth place in the drivers' standings. His happiness, though, had more to do with developments off the track: he just got engaged.

Leclerc will marry his long-time partner Alexandra Saint Mleux.

“I’m very, very happy, obviously. It is a special week, full of emotions," Leclerc said Thursday. "It’s obviously a very special moment for anyone to do that step. And, yeah, Alex and I are incredibly happy.”

The season itself hasn't given Leclerc as many reasons to celebrate. The Ferrari driver entered the year hoping to contend for the title, but with four races left he only has fourth place left to fight for.

He is currently fifth, 54 points behind Mercedes driver George Russell.

Leclerc, who finished a career-best second in the 2022 season, arrives at the iconic Interlagos racetrack on a good run after finishing second at the United States Gran Prix in Austin and in third place in Mexico City last weekend.

“The momentum is with us. We’ve had good last few races, which is a good thing, but we cannot really rely on the past for the future,” Leclerc said. “It’s all about starting from zero again.”

Ferrari also holds a one-point lead over Mercedes for second place in the constructors' championship, where McLaren has already secured the top spot.

“This weekend we are focusing step by step on what we can control and, try and make our processes the best, the most perfect possible,” Leclerc added. “And then we’ll see where we end up.”

Leclerc’s best finish at Interlagos is fourth place in 2022. He came fifth in 2021 and 2024, and seventh in 2018.

“I hope that is finally the weekend where I get back on the podium here in Brazil," he said.

Max Verstappen knows that the odds of capturing a fifth straight F1 title are against him. But he's not giving up yet.

The Red Bull driver is 36 points behind Lando Norris, who only has a one-point lead over McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

“We just try to do everything we can until the end,” Verstappen said. “It’s 36 points, still a decent gap.”

That gap was even bigger just a few races ago, when Verstappen's chances appeared to have vanished. But the Dutch driver has won three of the past five races to get back into contention.

“At one point when you are over 100 points behind, and we are still talking about being in this fight, that is very impressive,” he said.

Verstappen knows how to compete in Brazil, where he won in 2019, 2023 and in 2024 — when he rallied from 17th at the start.

“I know if the car is good and fast enough to win, we’ll do that," Verstappen said. “If it’s not, then I think naturally at one point you’re not in the fight anymore.”

Piastri isn't buying into any conspiracy theories about why he has struggled lately while his teammate Norris has surged into the standings lead.

Piastri finished fifth in the last two races while Norris came second in the U.S. and then won in Mexico. But Piastri tried to quell any speculation that the team is favoring Norris.

“No, it’s not the case,” Piastri said. “I think the last couple of weekends have been a little bit trickier, but we’ve got answers. There are not too many mysteries. I think there’s questions on why some differences have cropped up in terms of how I need to drive and stuff like that, but everything is explainable. So, there’s none of that going on.”

A year ago, Gabriel Bortoleto watched the Brazilian GP from the outside as a McLaren academy driver. Now the Kick Sauber rookie will take part in his home race for the first time.

The 21-year-old Bortoleto will become the first Brazilian F1 driver racing at Interlagos since Felipe Massa in 2017.

“I want to feel how it is, Interlagos and everything. But I don’t see it pressure-wise. I don’t need to perform better or worse because I’m in Brazil. It’s the same thing. I’m going to do my job,” Bortoleto said. “I’m happy that my family is going to be around, and a lot of Brazilian fans, and that’s for sure bringing a lot of good energy for me.”

Even though Bortoleto was born in Osasco, a city in the state of Sao Paulo located less than 20 miles from the racetrack, he does not view it as having a home advantage.

“It’s a track I’ve not been to so many times in the past. I’ve driven here once, but four years ago with a GT car. So, I don’t know the track very much,” Bortoleto said. “But I am very excited about driving here in front of the Brazilian crowd.”

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, of Australia, arrives to the Hermanos Rodriguez race track ahead the Formula One Mexico Grand Prix in Mexico City, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Team members of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, of the Netherlands, practice pit stops at the Interlagos race track ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix in Sao Paulo, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Kick Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto, of Brazil, speaks during a press conference ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track in Sao Paulo, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly, of France, left, talks with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, of Monaco, during a press conference ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track in Sao Paulo, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, of Monaco, speaks during a press conference ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track in Sao Paulo, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

HANOI, Vietnam--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 13, 2026--

FPT, through its global IT services subsidiary FPT Software, has achieved ISO/IEC 42001:2023, the first global standard for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Management Systems. With this milestone, FPT became the first company in Vietnam and the second in Southeast Asia to earn this recognition, underscoring its commitment to responsible AI development and deployment with consideration for fairness and impartiality, privacy and security, safety, quality and robustness, governance, transparency and explainability.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260112494011/en/

The certification was issued by the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company SGS and qualified by ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) - a leading U.S. accreditation body with global recognition. ISO/IEC 42001 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving AI management systems, allowing organizations to effectively manage risks and opportunities associated with AI, balancing innovation with compliance.

Achieving ISO/IEC 42001:2023 reflects FPT’s capability in AI governance, encompassing ethics, risk management, transparency, compliance, and ensuring alignment with both business goals and societal values. It also strengthens FPT’s position as a trusted technology partner for global organizations, especially those in highly regulated industries such as banking and financial services, automotive, healthcare, energy, and the public sector. The milestone further solidifies FPT’s position as an AI-first company, strengthening its foundation for scaling AI responsibly while helping clients navigate evolving regulatory, ethical, and operational challenges associated with AI adoption.

“As an AI-first company, we pledge to prioritize safety, ethics and accountability at every stage of our AI lifecycle. By continuously governing AI development and implementation processes, we provide our clients and partners with the assurance that our solutions are built with responsibility, transparency and adhere to international excellence,” said Dao Duy Cuong, FPT Software EVP and Chief Digital & Technology Officer, FPT Corporation.

FPT actively promotes responsible AI development as a founding member of the AI Alliance led by IBM and Meta, and the Vietnam Ethical AI Committee. The company is committed to embedding rigorous AI governance across its global operations and solution portfolio, including its flagship AI platform FleziPT, which boosts productivity by 30%, accelerates development by 60% and reduces 50% in rework. The company also maintains co-creation partnerships with global leaders like AWS, Microsoft, SAP, and NVIDIA to deliver tailored solutions for industry-specific challenges. Supporting these efforts is a workforce of over 25,000 AI-augmented, globally certified engineers, and world-class infrastructure including cutting-edge AI Factories in Vietnam and Japan, which have been ranked among the world’s Top 40 fastest supercomputers. Expanding its AI footprint, FPT is developing a new Research Center in Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, which is expected to become a critical component of its global AI development network, supporting high-quality talent cultivation for both the local community and the nation.

About FPT

FPT Corporation (FPT) is a globally leading technology and IT services provider headquartered in Vietnam, operating in three core sectors: Technology, Telecommunications, and Education. Over more than three decades, FPT has consistently delivered impactful solutions to millions of individuals and tens of thousands of organizations worldwide. As an AI-first company, FPT is committed to elevating Vietnam’s position on the global tech map and delivering world-class AI-enabled solutions for global enterprises. FPT focuses on three critical transformations: Digital Transformation, Intelligence Transformation, and Green Transformation. In 2024, FPT reported a total revenue of USD 2.47 billion and a workforce of over 54,000 employees across its core businesses. For more information about FPT's global IT services, please visit https://fptsoftware.com.

FPT received ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification during the certification award ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnam