Fernando Alonso and Melissa Jiménez have welcomed a son, Leonard Alonso Jiménez, and Alonso confirmed the name while posting the baby's Formula 1 paddock pass. The birth came during Japanese Grand Prix week at Suzuka. The Aston Martin driver missed Thursday media day and the first practice session, with the team naming Jack Crawford as his stand-in, before Alonso returned to the event.
Alonso said both mother and baby are healthy. He called the days around the birth stressful but also “super happy” and “very special.” He said he planned to rest and spend time with family after the race weekend. The 42-year-old balanced hospital visits and travel with his duties at the circuit as his team adjusted its plans.
Confusion over the baby’s name spread on social media during the week. Some posts, and a TV report, claimed the child had been named Fernando. Alonso addressed the rumors and set the record straight. He wrote that his son’s name is Leonard Alonso Jiménez and asked fans and media to respect that. The message ended the debate and matched the details on the paddock pass he shared.
Formula 1 marked the moment with a symbolic pass for the newborn. The card read “Welcome to the F1 family.” Alonso thanked F1 in a post and called the pass “the first of many.” The gesture echoed similar welcomes that the series has offered to drivers’ children in recent seasons.
The timing of the birth shaped Alonso’s week at Suzuka. He skipped his usual Thursday media duties to be with his family. Aston Martin prepared reserve driver Jack Crawford to step in. Crawford was named as the stand-in while Alonso traveled. The two-time world champion then returned and took up his place for the rest of the weekend.
Alonso and Jiménez kept most details private. They shared only the basics on health and the baby’s full name. The couple’s updates focused on gratitude and on enjoying the first days with their son. Team messages and posts from the paddock sent congratulations as the news spread across the grid.
The arrival of Leonard adds to a growing group of young children among current Formula 1 drivers. It highlights the balance many racers manage between family life and a crowded calendar. For Alonso, the week showed both sides. He missed early duties to be present at home, then met his sporting commitments when he returned to the track. He closed the weekend by thanking fans for their support and by welcoming his son to the sport’s world in a small but public way.