Fernando Alonso Delays Japan Trip for Birth of First Child with Melissa Jiménez
Fernando Alonso will miss the opening media day at the Japanese Grand Prix for personal family reasons. BBC Sports confirmed that Melissa Jiménez has given birth to their first child together.
Alonso is 44 and from Oviedo. Jiménez is 38 and was born in Liège.
Team response and timing
Aston Martin said Alonso will arrive later in the weekend for family reasons. The team added he is expected to be on track by Friday.
The outfit declined to provide further details. Sources close to the couple confirmed the birth to BBC Sports.
Practice lineup changes
On Monday, Aston Martin named Jak Crawford to take Alonso’s place in first practice. Crawford will run in the opening session while Alonso attends family matters.
Pregnancy announcement and privacy
The pregnancy was revealed in December, with sources saying the baby was due in March. The newborn’s sex has not been disclosed.
As a result of the news, Fernando Alonso delayed his Japan trip for the birth of his first child with Melissa Jiménez. The couple has maintained a private profile throughout the pregnancy.
Professional context and public absence
Melissa Jiménez works as a Formula 1 reporter for DAZN. Her absence from recent races triggered speculation about the pregnancy.
Her social media showed no activity after June 2025. The pair have avoided detailed public commentary since the announcement.
Family and personal history
This is Jiménez’s fourth child. She has three older children with former husband Marc Bartra.
- Gala
- Abril
- Max
The couple began their relationship in 2023. Their first public photograph appeared in Monaco in spring 2023.
Previous relationships
Alonso was married to Raquel del Rosario from 2006 to 2011. He later had relationships with Lara Álvarez and Linda Morselli.
Jiménez married Marc Bartra in 2017 and separated in 2022. She later had a brief relationship with comedian Dani Martínez.
The exclusive initial report of the pregnancy appeared via Filmogaz.com. Sources close to the couple described them as very happy.
