Leclerc Misses Sao Paulo Media Day as Ferrari Star Celebrates Birth of Daughter Bianca

Charles Leclerc will miss the opening day of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend after becoming a father for the first time. Ferrari confirmed on Thursday that the Monegasque driver stayed behind in Europe for the birth of his daughter, Bianca, his first child with partner Alexandra, and has been excused from all media duties at Interlagos. The Italian team said Leclerc is travelling to Brazil later on Thursday and will be back on regular track duty from Friday morning, in time for the competitive sessions of the weekend. His absence from Thursday's schedule, which normally includes the official FIA press conference and a series of team broadcast and sponsor commitments, required a dispensation under the sport's regulations. Ferrari reserve driver Dino Beganovic will take Leclerc's place in first practice on Friday, filling the team's mandatory requirement for a rookie to run in four opening practice sessions across the season. Leclerc arrives in Brazil after finishing fourth in Mexico City, where a penalty for an opening-lap clash with Lewis Hamilton cost him a podium finish. The Sao Paulo race, round 20 of the season, takes place on Sunday at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, with practice on Friday and qualifying on Saturday.