Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has come under fire from former Formula One racer David Coulthard for bringing his wife Alexandra and their dog Leo to Grand Prix race weekends, with Coulthard claiming the Monegasque driver is doing "too much" during race events.
The 28-year-old driver tied the knot with Alexandra in February, and the couple have since become a prominent fixture in the paddock alongside their pet dog Leo, who has turned into a viral fan favourite across the racing community following multiple appearances at race tracks.
However, the family presence has coincided with a challenging campaign on track for Scuderia Ferrari, the historic Italian team based in Maranello. Leclerc currently sits fifth in the drivers' championship standings despite high expectations surrounding the team at the start of the season.
The eight-time Grand Prix winner trails his new Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion who made a headline transfer to the Italian outfit. Leclerc also sits behind Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, as well as defending world champion Lando Norris of McLaren.
According to Coulthard, Leclerc's entourage and lifestyle during race weekends may be affecting his focus on the track.
Criticism of paddock routine
Coulthard raised his concerns during an appearance on the Up To Speed podcast, pointing out that Alexandra is currently pregnant with the couple's first child and questioning whether bringing family and pets to race tracks is appropriate for a driver.
"He's good looking, he's got the family, a baby on the way, a dog in the paddock," Coulthard said on the podcast. "My opinion is that's all a bit too much, frankly."
Coulthard stressed that Grand Prix racing requires total concentration due to the inherent dangers of top-level motorsport, suggesting his perspective stems from a different era of racing.
"It's not a weekend away picnic, is it? It's a Grand Prix, it's a serious business," Coulthard said. "It's a dangerous business, but that's probably me being of an older generation."
Coulthard, a Scottish driver who achieved 13 Grand Prix victories during a career spanning Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull Racing before becoming a broadcaster, acknowledged that Ferrari leadership has limited scope to intervene in their drivers' personal habits.
"They don't have a choice," Coulthard added regarding Ferrari. "They've employed two of the best drivers in the world. You then manage them as best you can."
Defence from drivers' families
Coulthard's comments quickly prompted a reaction within the sport, drawing public criticism from Brittny Button, the wife of 2009 Formula One world champion Jenson Button.
Taking to Instagram, Button pushed back against the suggestion that family members represent a distraction, arguing that the sport's culture needed to become more inclusive of drivers' personal lives.
"As an ex wag, I'm happy to see that formula one is embracing the drivers partners/families more," Button wrote in a post on the platform. "The paddock was not a very welcoming place for women for so long."
She added: "In my opinion, this is a great and positive change."
Evolving culture in the paddock
The term WAG, an acronym originally coined by British tabloid media to refer to wives and girlfriends of high-profile athletes, has long been associated with the social scene surrounding major sporting competitions.
Button's comments highlight a shift inside the Formula One paddock, the restricted working enclosure located directly behind the pit garages where teams set up multi-storey hospitality units, host sponsors, and manage technical operations during Grand Prix weekends.
Historically, the paddock was viewed as a strict environment focused purely on engineering and racing, but recent years have seen drivers bringing partners, children, and pets into the working environment.
Monaco wedding and vintage Ferrari
Leclerc and Alexandra were married in a picturesque ceremony in Monaco in February, celebrating their wedding just one week before the 2026 Formula One season officially commenced.
The wedding took place in Leclerc's home principality of Monaco, the Mediterranean enclave famous for its harbour and iconic street circuit, where Leclerc was born and raised.
Following the nuptials, the driver shared a video on social media offering fans an inside look at the celebrations, including footage of his wife's wedding dress, the exchanging of rings, and their dog Leo attending the ceremony.
The video also showed guests congratulating the newlyweds before the couple departed the venue in a historic 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, driven by Leclerc himself.
Rare sports car and future plans
The classic vehicle, valued at approximately £9 million, is regarded as one of the most famous and valuable vintage models ever produced by Ferrari. Featuring a distinctive V12 engine and pontoon-fender styling, the Testa Rossa won multiple world sports car titles and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the late 1950s.
In addition to the video footage, Leclerc posted a message on X to mark the occasion and outline plans for further celebrations with family and friends.
"A day we'll forever remember," Leclerc wrote on X. "Part one is done and part 2 will be next year with all of our close ones."
