Fernando Alonso will make a delayed arrival to the Japanese Grand Prix weekend at Suzuka Circuit, prioritizing family time as he and partner Melissa Jimenez await the birth of their first child. The Aston Martin driver has chosen to skip the traditional Thursday media commitments, with the baby’s due date coinciding directly with the race weekend schedule.
Aston Martin confirmed Wednesday that the two-time world champion will miss media day activities but assured fans he will be present for Friday’s practice sessions. “Fernando is arriving slightly later this weekend for personal family reasons and won’t be attending media day at the Japanese Grand Prix,” the Silverstone-based team stated. “All is well and he will be at the track in time for Friday.”
Reserve driver Jak Crawford will substitute for Alonso during first practice on Friday, fulfilling the mandatory rookie session requirement while providing the 44-year-old veteran additional precious hours with his growing family. This arrangement allows Alonso to balance his Formula 1 commitments with one of life’s most significant personal milestones.
The timing presents particular challenges for Aston Martin, who enter Suzuka facing mounting pressure after a troubled start to the 2026 campaign. Persistent reliability problems, including engine vibration issues causing battery failures, have hampered the team’s performance. Alonso was forced to retire from the Chinese Grand Prix due to physical discomfort from these mechanical gremlins, despite ongoing efforts from engine partner Honda to resolve the problems.
Suzuka’s demanding layout offers little forgiveness for teams struggling with reliability concerns, making this weekend crucial for Aston Martin’s championship aspirations. For Alonso, the emotional significance of potentially becoming a father during race weekend adds an unprecedented dimension to his professional obligations, with the veteran driver demonstrating that even in Formula 1’s high-stakes environment, family comes first.