Ferrari Driver Charles Leclerc to Miss Media Day at Imola GP Due to Illness
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc will be absent from Thursday’s media day activities at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix due to illness, his team has confirmed. The news comes as Ferrari prepares for their first home race of the F1 2025 season at Imola, a weekend that promises to be crucial for the team as they look to turn their disappointing start to the season around. According to PlanetF1.com, Leclerc will not be participating in the media activities scheduled for Thursday.
Ferrari have had a tough beginning to the F1 2025 season, trailing the runaway title leaders McLaren by 152 points after the first six races. The team has managed to secure only one podium finish so far, with Leclerc finishing third at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah last month. As the team gears up for their home race, they will be hoping that Leclerc’s absence on Thursday will not impact their performance on the track.
In a statement provided to PlanetF1.com, Ferrari confirmed that Leclerc is feeling unwell and will not be coming to the track on Thursday. “Charles is feeling unwell and will not be coming to the track today,” the statement read. “He will rest and focus on recovering and we expect him to be in the car tomorrow.” It is expected that Leclerc will return to the paddock for the opening day of practice on Friday, with his participation in the remainder of the Emilia Romagna GP weekend not believed to be in doubt.
Leclerc is contesting his seventh full season as a Ferrari driver, having joined the Scuderia at the end of his debut campaign with Sauber in 2018. During his time with Ferrari, he has claimed a total of eight victories, 44 podiums, and 26 pole positions. In 2022, he achieved a career-best second place in the Drivers’ standings. Last season was his strongest since 2022, with three victories in Monaco, Italy, and the United States. Currently, Leclerc sits fifth in the F1 2025 Drivers’ standings, 12 points ahead of his team-mate and seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton.
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix marks the first of two home races for Ferrari in F1 2025, with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza set to be held on September 7. However, the 2025 event at Imola is widely expected to be F1’s last visit to the circuit for some time, with the race’s current contract set to expire at the end of this season and no extension believed to be forthcoming.
Leclerc’s absence on Thursday will undoubtedly be a concern for Ferrari, but the team will be relieved that his participation in the remainder of the weekend is not expected to be impacted. As PlanetF1.com reports, the team are set to introduce a ‘bold’ upgrade package at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which could potentially turn their season around. As the team looks to bounce back from a disappointing start, they will be hoping that Leclerc’s recovery will be swift and that he will be back to his best on the track come Friday.
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