Leclerc rings in the New Year on a wave

©Instagram

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©Instagram

As we've often noted, there's always a need for speed for an F1 driver, wherever he happens to be.

Charles Leclerc and girlfriend Charlotte Sine, along with their group of friends, chose Cancun as their destination of choice to wind down during the holiday season.

And sure enough, as a young man who grew up on the water in Monaco, Leclerc gave free rein to his passion for speed by riding the waves of the Caribbean Sea, his better half straddled behind.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.