That is a wild cross-continental dash. As Motorsport.com Italia reports, Charles Leclerc has flown back home from Brazil to be by the side of his wife, Alexandra Saint Mieux, for the birth of their first child. The driver rushed away as she reached the final stage of her pregnancy, leaving the paddock talking about something far bigger than lap times. Leclerc plans to return in time to take his place for FP2.
In the meantime, the Scuderia has handed the SF-26 to Dino Beganovic. The young Swede from the Ferrari Driver Academy steps straight into the garage alongside Lewis Hamilton for the opening practice session of the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, as official team announcements confirmed. It is a stunning opportunity for the Maranello third driver and tester, who has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2020. Beganovic has already completed two practice outings in the SF-26 this year to fulfill the mandatory FIA rookie sessions, having previously driven in the first hour of practice at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona and the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg. Now, he jumps back into the cockpit of the machine that looked like the most competitive package at Mexico City.
There is an interesting twist for the Prancing Horse at Interlagos, with two products of the Ferrari Driver Academy taking to the track. Alongside Beganovic, Rafael Câmara makes his debut with Haas. The 21-year-old from Recife was originally slated only for a home free practice run, but following the definitive departure of Esteban Ocon, the American team opted to give the Brazilian youngster his debut ahead of a full-time race seat in 2027 under team principal Ayao Komatsu.
Leclerc faces a brutal double intercontinental journey, but catching the first cry of his baby girl in Monte Carlo makes every mile worth it. We await the happy news.
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