Formula One's Glamorous Season Launch in Melbourne
Formula One's most glamorous season opener is now fully underway in Melbourne, with the stars of the paddock extending far beyond those seated behind the wheel. As the sport's most significant regulatory overhaul in a generation transforms the cars lining up at Albert Park this weekend, the partners and families of the grid's biggest names have descended upon one of the world's most liveable cities. This convergence promises a spectacular launch to what is anticipated to be a thrilling and transformative season.
The Off-Track Narratives
From a newly married Ferrari driver to a home hero supported by his entire family, the stories unfolding off the track are every bit as compelling and engaging as the high-speed drama set to occur on it. Albert Park is hosting the 2026 Australian Grand Prix from March 6 to 8, with the main race scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Since the gates opened on Friday morning, the paddock has been buzzing with familiar faces and new energy.
Notable figures such as Rebecca Donaldson, Lily Zneimer, Alexandra Leclerc, and Isabela Bernardini have all made the journey to Melbourne. They bring their own distinct star power and personal narratives to a city already electric with anticipation and excitement. Here, we take a detailed and closer look at the women who have captivatingly stolen the spotlight on the opening day of this new Formula One era.
Oscar Piastri and His Support Network
Australia's great hope in Melbourne is Oscar Piastri, and he boasts a remarkably strong and dedicated support network behind him. This includes his girlfriend, Lily Zneimer. The couple have been together since they were both seventeen years old, making theirs one of the most enduring and steadfast romances in the entire F1 paddock. They originally met at Haileybury College, a boarding school located in Hertford, England, connecting during their second-to-last year of school.
Oscar has described Lily as a crucial grounding force in his life, noting that she has been there consistently from the very start—from his early days in single-seaters all the way to Formula One. She remains a constant presence in what is often a quite manic and unpredictable world. The couple deliberately and consciously keep their relationship out of the intense media spotlight, with Oscar explaining that they strive to live normal, balanced lives rather than actively drawing attention to themselves.
Lily is an engineering graduate with her own clear ambitions in motorsport. Reports emerged in 2025 that the McLaren team had taken her on as a race engineering intern, highlighting her professional pursuits. On the family front, Oscar grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton. He was raised by his mother, Nicole, alongside his three younger sisters: Hattie, Edie, and Mae. Nicole has become something of a fan favourite in her own right, amassing over 150,000 followers on social media platform X. This following is thanks to her sharp, witty humour and her wholehearted, unwavering support of Oscar's career, even if some of her most viral moments have humorously come at his expense.
Liam Lawson and Hannah St. John
New Zealand's Liam Lawson arrives in Melbourne with his partner, Hannah St. John, as he prepares to make a significant impression with the Racing Bulls team. The Kiwi driver has been dating Hannah, a Californian from Newport Beach, since October 2022. The couple celebrate their relationship publicly through the various highs and lows of his rollercoaster F1 journey.
Hannah graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences. She is described as both a model and an aspiring medical professional, effectively carving out her own ambitious and independent path alongside her steadfast support of Liam's burgeoning career. The couple are notably more open on social media than many other F1 pairs, regularly sharing vlogs on YouTube and posting affectionate content on Instagram. This openness has earned them a dedicated and loyal following among fans worldwide.
Due to her academic commitments, Hannah has not been a constant paddock presence. However, she makes a definite point of attending American races, and the two have also been spotted together at festivals like Stagecoach in California. Hannah introduced Liam to country music, and her brother got him hooked on the NFL, with Lawson becoming a devoted Kansas City Chiefs supporter ahead of Super Bowl LIX. When Liam was abruptly dropped by Red Bull after just two races of the 2025 season, Hannah publicly showed her strong support on social media, underlining the steadying and supportive role she plays in what has been a turbulent start to his top-flight F1 career.
Charles Leclerc and Alexandra Leclerc
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc married his long-term partner, Alexandra Saint Mleux, on 28 February 2026 in a private civil ceremony held in Monaco. This event occurred just days before the start of the new Formula 1 season, marking a significant personal milestone. Charles had proposed to Alexandra in November 2025 with the charming help of their beloved dachshund, Leo. The dog wore a tag reading 'Dad wants to marry you,' accompanied by cookies iced with 'We're getting married' and a heart made of roses and candles.
Alexandra, now going by Alexandra Leclerc, works professionally as an art coordinator and public relations lead at the Kamil Art Gallery in Monaco. She has also built a strong following as an influencer and a notable fashion figure. The couple have described the February celebration as 'part one,' with a larger, more elaborate second ceremony planned for the following year to include all of their closest family and friends. Unfortunately, there was no sign of their dachshund Leo in Australia this year, although he was present at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Gabriel Bortoleto and Isabela Bernardini
Gabriel Bortoleto and Isabela Bernardini have been together since 2020, making theirs one of the longer-standing relationships among the current F1 grid. Both are Brazilian and originally hail from São Paulo. Isabela is a computer science student specialising in cybersecurity at a university in Eindhoven, Netherlands. She is carving out her own ambitious academic and professional path while steadfastly supporting Gabriel's racing career from the sidelines.
The couple are famously known for keeping their relationship deliberately and intensely private. However, Isabela has been a steady and supportive presence at key milestones. This includes appearances from the F2 championship celebration in Kigali to paddock appearances throughout his debut F1 season. She was even by his side at the prestigious F1 movie premiere in the United States.
Carlos Sainz and Rebecca Donaldson
Carlos Sainz and his glamorous model partner, Rebecca Donaldson, have been together since 2023. They reportedly first met when Donaldson appeared as the featured model in an advertising campaign for the Ferrari Roma Spider—the very car Sainz was driving at the time. Rebecca is a Scottish model and entrepreneur, born in Scone, Perthshire. She first entered the industry after winning a modeling competition at age seventeen and has since graced the covers of major publications like Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar.
The couple are widely considered one of the most stylish and photogenic pairings in the entire paddock. Rebecca is a regular presence at race weekends, and Carlos is a devoted Instagram boyfriend, often leaving heart emoji comments on her posts. Marriage rumours have swirled consistently around them. Carlos once hinted at the question by remarking that his current girlfriend was who he would marry in Vegas. His father, Carlos Sainz Sr., has also publicly mused about his son choosing the right person to start a family with, adding to the speculative chatter.
