Leclerc skips media day in Brazil after the birth of Bianca

Charles Leclerc will not take part in the media activities scheduled for today in Brazil. Ferrari has exempted him after the birth of his daughter Bianca, who arrived while the Monegasque remained in Monte Carlo with his wife Alexandra. The driver will only reach Interlagos in the evening, therefore missing the entire Thursday media day.

Leclerc will nevertheless return to the circuit on Friday morning in Brazil and resume the team programme from that moment. His return to track action, however, will not coincide with the first free practice session: Ferrari has handed the SF-26 to Dino Beganovic for FP1 of the GP of Brazil.

Leclerc’s situation comes in a weekend that, beyond the Monegasque’s presence, also sees other movements in the paddock. Lance Stroll will also skip media day: suffering from flu, he will return to the track from tomorrow, starting with FP1. In Brazil there will also be the debut of Rafael Câmara with Haas, another name set to go on track over the Interlagos weekend.

Beganovic at the wheel

For Beganovic, another opportunity opens up with Ferrari. The Swede has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2020, is third driver and test driver for the Maranello team and this season has already driven twice in free practice with the SF-26, in Barcelona and Spielberg.

At Interlagos, therefore, Beganovic will take Leclerc’s place in the first session. For the Monegasque, meanwhile, the programme resumes from the second part of Friday, after the journey between Monte Carlo and Brazil and after his absence from Thursday, which is dedicated to media commitments.