“I Don’t Think I’ll Miss a Race” – Charles Leclerc Confirms in Austin As He Expects First Child’s Birth

Soon-to-be dad Charles Leclerc has confirmed that he does not expect to miss any races this season, should the dates clash with the birth of his child. Heading into the first of the final two triple headers of 2026, Leclerc was asked about his availability for the upcoming races.

The Monegasque driver claimed that he would do everything he can to ensure that he spends time at home between races. Although there are chances that it might lead to him arriving at the paddock a bit later than usual, he would still try to keep an equal balance between the two.

Speaking to the F1 media, including Motorsport, Leclerc said, “No, I don’t think I’ll miss a race. But, obviously, I’ll do everything to be at home as much as possible in between those races. So, I might arrive a little bit late. But I will be doing the races on Sunday.”

Having tied the knot with Alexandra Mleux in February this year, Leclerc is just a few weeks away from becoming a father for the first time. Given the emotions involved, the 29-year-old wants to make sure he’s there to see the birth of his first child, having been together with Mleux since 2023.

Leclerc and Alexandra have come far since their dating rumors began

In early 2023, speculation started surfacing about something cooking between Leclerc and Mleux after the two were spotted together at Paris Fashion Week. At the time, Mleux kept her social media profiles private, while Leclerc did everything to dodge all speculation.

Then, in an interview in May, the Ferrari driver publicly accepted that he was seeing someone, but didn’t name Mleux.

A couple of months later, the two made their debut as a couple, putting all the speculation to rest. Following the debut, they started appearing as audience members at several high-profile sporting events, including the Wimbledon championships and an LA Lakers game.

Almost a year after going public, Leclerc and Mleux welcomed a miniature dachshund puppy named ‘Leo.’ Public appearances subsequently became the norm for the couple, who even attended a red carpet gala together after the Monegasque won the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix.

In November 2025, the couple dropped their engagement announcement via Instagram, making sure Leo was an equal part of the proceedings. Following their engagement, Leclerc and Mleux decided to marry each other in an intimate ceremony in Monaco, at a venue overlooking the Mediterranean.

Ferrari Have Lined a Precautionary Replacement for Charles Leclerc

Given how strong the relationship has been between Leclerc and his wife, there is still a chance that a situation may arise where the No. 16 driver cannot take charge of the steering wheel on a given weekend.

Should the need arise, Ferrari does not want to be a team that’s out of sorts, and has therefore decided to line up a replacement.

If needed, Ferrari Driver Academy member Dino Beganovic would be the one partnering up with Lewis Hamilton. Currently an F2 driver, Beganovic has already completed several F1 practice sessions, and from next season onwards, he will become Ferrari’s full-time reserve, test, and development driver.

Before joining F2, Beganovic drove for Prema Racing in F3, where he won the Melbourne and Spa-Francorchamps races along with several more podiums. The Swedish-Bosnian driver was also impressive in the European Formula Regional championship, instilling enough confidence in DAMS Racing to sign him.

A Ferrari works driver, Beganovic already has experience driving Leclerc’s car, given that he took charge of the No.16 car in the first free practice sessions in Bahrain and Austria.

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