Alonso to miss part of Japanese GP weekend as child’s birth imminent

The team has confirmed that the Spaniard will not be on track tomorrow, as he is set to arrive later than planned due to ‘personal family reasons’, with his partner Melissa Jimenez reportedly close to giving birth to their child.

Aston Martin reassured that there are no concerns and confirmed he will be present at the circuit from Friday onwards.

The two-time world champion’s weekend will therefore effectively begin from FP2, with American talent and Aston Martin reserve driver Jack Crawford set to be in the car alongside Lance Stroll for the opening session.

Speaking to a betting site, former Ferrari engineer Jock Clear praised Alonso’s undeniable talent, pointing to the remarkable performances he has delivered behind the wheel over the years.

However, he also raised doubts about whether Alonso is the right driver to lead a team out of a difficult situation, suggesting that such a challenge may not align with his core strengths and could expose certain limitations.