Leclerc misses Brazil GP start after welcoming daughter Bianca

Charles Leclerc will not attend Thursday's media day ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix.

Ferrari confirmed the driver received an exemption from mandatory media commitments.

The reason is personal: Leclerc's wife Alexandra gave birth to their first child on Tuesday.

The baby's name is Bianca.

The couple announced the birth on Instagram Wednesday with a simple caption: "Bianca 🤍 3.11.26."

Leclerc returned to Monaco immediately after the Mexican Grand Prix to be present for the delivery.

He made it home in time.

The timing places the birth at the tail end of a grueling triple-header stretch.

Leclerc is still fighting for second place in the drivers' championship.

He is now traveling to Brazil on Thursday instead of Wednesday.

Thursday's schedule at Interlagos typically includes the FIA press conference.

It also includes a raft of team broadcast and sponsor commitments.

All of these are mandatory under the sporting regulations unless a dispensation is granted.

Missing such commitments without an approved excuse can normally result in a summons.

It can also result in a financial penalty from the stewards.

But a case like Leclerc's is treated as a standard exemption rather than a breach.

Ferrari released a statement explaining the situation.

The statement read: "Charles has been exempt of attending media activities today in São Paulo, following the birth of his daughter."

The statement continued: "He will resume regular track activities from tomorrow morning."

Leclerc will also miss the first practice session on Friday.

Ferrari junior driver Dino Beganovic will take his place in FP1.

This is part of the mandatory rule requiring each team to field a rookie in four FP1 sessions across a season.

Ferrari had originally scheduled Rafael Câmara to make his practice debut.

But the team changed its plans when Haas called up its F1 2027 driver to replace Esteban Ocon.

Leclerc heads into the Brazilian round after a controversial Mexican Grand Prix.

He finished fourth in Mexico City.

But the result was overshadowed by an opening-lap clash with teammate Lewis Hamilton.

The two Ferraris fought for the lead on the first lap.

Hamilton was furious with Leclerc after the incident.

They emerged first and third with Max Verstappen between them.

The stewards penalized Leclerc for gaining an advantage off the track.

He received a five-second penalty.

Some observers, including RB team principal Laurent Mekies, said the penalty felt "a bit light."

Leclerc addressed the clash after the race.

"We will talk about it, obviously," Leclerc said last Sunday.

"I don't know if he was very unhappy with what I did, because I felt like what he did was very much on the limit as well."

"I think he was maybe more angry with the whole situation, how the situation was dealt with in Turns 4 and 5 with the penalty, etc."

"So this is something we'll talk about for sure."

Leclerc also indicated he had his own grievances with Hamilton's driving.

"Well, I'll speak with Lewis," he said.

"I could be also unhappy with how much he pushed me off the track out of Turn 1, but I think it's racing."

"When you are fighting for a win, it's the way it should be."

An Italian newspaper singled out Leclerc with a brutal verdict on the Hamilton clash.

The report criticized Leclerc's judgment on the opening lap.

It framed the incident as a strategic error that cost Ferrari a potential 1-2 finish.

Leclerc's absence from media day means fans will have to wait longer to hear his side of the story.

The team's internal talks about the clash have been postponed.

Leclerc and Hamilton were expected to discuss the incident after the race.

Those discussions will now likely take place at the circuit this weekend.

The São Paulo Grand Prix runs from November 6 to 8.

Leclerc is 29 years old.