False alarm for Leclerc: skipping Imola? Giovinazzi on standby? Then comes the denial

A scare for the Tifosi: is Charles Leclerc missing the Imola GP? The rumor spreads—only to be denied shortly after (with an update at the end of FP1).

In the last few hours, a worrying rumor had circulated among Ferrari fans: Charles Leclerc, who was absent from the paddock on Thursday due to illness, might have missed the entire Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend.

According to Simone Peluso from FormulaPassion.it, the Monegasque driver wasn’t feeling well, and a potential withdrawal was being considered, with Antonio Giovinazzi—Ferrari’s reserve driver—reportedly ready to step in at the last minute.

The news quickly spread across social media, sparking concern among the fans and curiosity within the paddock. However, the panic didn’t last long: Leclerc was spotted this morning in Imola’s paddock, smiling and wearing official Ferrari gear, ready to take part in the race weekend.

Further confirming that it was all a false alarm was the swift removal of the article from the outlet that initially reported the news. No official statement ever came from Ferrari.

So, no driver swap in sight: Leclerc will be behind the wheel of the SF-25 as planned, facing a crucial weekend in front of Ferrari’s home crowd. It remains to be seen whether the illness will affect his performance, but for now, the worst seems to be over.

UPDATE: What happened to Leclerc today

Leclerc looked noticeably tired and fatigued: he stayed in Maranello all day yesterday to rest, due to a bout of fever. Antonio Giovinazzi was already on standby for a potential substitution, but the Monegasque chose to push through and set the 12th fastest time in FP1.