Alonso shares first reaction as a father after missing media duties

Fernando Alonso confirmed the birth of his first child just before the Japanese Grand Prix, arriving in Suzuka a day late and sharing his initial thoughts as a new father. The Aston Martin driver described the moment as "super happy" and "very special," while immediately shifting focus back to his work on track.

Why it matters:

For a driver of Alonso's stature and age—competing in his 21st F1 season—this major life event adds a new personal dimension to his legendary career. It highlights the constant balancing act F1 drivers face between immense personal milestones and the relentless, globe-trotting demands of the sport, especially during a packed race weekend.

The details:

• Alonso missed the official Thursday media day at Suzuka, arriving only on Friday morning ahead of Free Practice 2.
• In an interview with DAZN, he admitted to feeling jet-lagged but was ready to work. "We just finished FP2, and in a few hours it’s time to sleep," he said.
• Reflecting on the birth, Alonso stated, "You never really imagine anything specific. Things just happen as they happen, and there’s a bit of stress and worry about everything going well."
• He expressed relief that everything went well for both mother and baby, calling it a "super happy, very special moment" before concluding, "And now, it's time to work."
• On track, Alonso took over the AMR24 from rookie Jak Crawford for FP2, finishing the session in 19th place as the team focused on longer runs and data collection.

What's next:

Alonso's immediate focus is squarely on maximizing Aston Martin's performance for the remainder of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. The team will be analyzing the data from his FP2 runs to improve the car's setup for qualifying and the race. While a profound personal chapter has just begun, Alonso's professional mindset remains unchanged, with his attention now fully on the challenge of Suzuka.