By Salma El-Sakka
Charles Leclerc will miss media commitments ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix after the birth of his first child.
The Monegasque driver announced on Instagram that his wife Alexandra gave birth to their daughter Bianca on Tuesday. He was originally scheduled to face reporters on Thursday but has been granted extra time to remain at home with his family in Monaco.
The 29-year-old’s absence means he will not immediately address criticism from teammate Lewis Hamilton following their clash at the Mexico Grand Prix last weekend. Hamilton accused Leclerc of working against him during an opening-lap overtake attempt, which allowed Max Verstappen to take victory.
“We have to have some serious talks behind the scenes for sure,” Hamilton said. “I think it’s a mentality thing. It’s like, ‘Do or die. Either I win or none of us do’, and it shouldn’t be that.” Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur described the situation as a matter of respect and said it was difficult to digest giving up a win.
Despite the internal friction, Ferrari remains in contention for second place in both championships. Hamilton sits third in the drivers’ standings with 259 points, two behind Verstappen, while Leclerc is fifth with 245 points, behind Hamilton and George Russell. Only 16 points separate the rest of the top five excluding newly crowned champion Kimi Antonelli. In the constructors’ championship, Ferrari holds a 122-point lead over Red Bull but trails leaders Mercedes by 126 points.
