Mexico City Grand Prix · News
Who would replace Leclerc at Ferrari if he misses a race for his baby’s birth?
Dino Beganovic is understood to be first in line to replace Charles Leclerc at Ferrari if the birth of Leclerc’s first child clashes with a Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc says he intends to contest every remaining race of the 2026 Formula 1 season, despite expecting his first child with wife Alexandra in its closing weeks. But if the timing forces him to miss a Grand Prix, Dino Beganovic is understood to be Ferrari’s leading replacement option.
Five long-haul races remain, beginning in Mexico City this weekend. Leclerc has said he will do what he can to spend time at home between events, while still planning to race on Sundays. The couple have not disclosed the baby’s expected arrival date.
Beganovic is Ferrari’s leading reserve option
The 22-year-old Swede, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, is competing in Formula 2 this year. He has already driven the team’s 2026 car in two first-practice sessions: in Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari in Barcelona, and in Leclerc’s car in Austria. Ferrari’s confirmation of his Austrian GP practice appearance marked one of those opportunities to gain F1 experience.
Beganovic is due to take on the formal role of Ferrari reserve, test and development driver in 2027. His current F2 campaign has also included a Feature Race victory at Madring.
Antonio Giovinazzi is another possible stand-in. The Italian raced in Formula 1 for Alfa Romeo from 2019 to 2021 and has since driven for Ferrari in the World Endurance Championship. However, he is not expected to be first choice and would be unavailable for the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend because of his WEC commitments.
Other Ferrari juniors are unlikely to be called
Ferrari junior Ollie Bearman is already set to drive for Haas, while fellow academy member Rafael Camara has yet to take part in an F1 session. Both are therefore considered unlikely alternatives.
A Leclerc absence would come at an important point in the championship, but the source of concern for Ferrari is limited. He is fifth in the drivers’ standings, while Ferrari sits second in the constructors’ championship, 133 points behind Mercedes. Red Bull and McLaren are tied for third, and Ferrari is well clear of them, making a single missed race unlikely to cost the team second place.
Leclerc arrives after finishing second in both Singapore and Austin. Following the United States Grand Prix, he said he believed he still had a chance to win before the season ends. For now, his stated plan remains to race every Sunday; Beganovic appears to be the contingency should that change.