What F1 drivers have been up to over the festive holidays

F1 drivers are making the most of their winter break after a busy 2025 season, balancing relaxation, training, and family time before the countdown to Melbourne. Oscar Piastri and Valtteri Bottas enjoyed the Ashes cricket in Australia, while Max Verstappen tested a Mercedes GT3 in Portugal, and Fernando Alonso hit a dirt track in his XC Cross car. Many, like George Russell, Pierre Gasly, Charles Leclerc, and Lance Stroll, headed to the slopes for skiing. Others focused on family, travel, or giving back, with Lewis Hamilton visiting New York and Pierre Gasly attending a charity gala. Rookies Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman reflected on their successful campaigns, as Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez ramp up preparations for their anticipated 2026 return with Cadillac.