Surprising F1 comeback for forgotten Ferrari driver as questions hang over Charles Leclerc for Spanish Grand Prix
Ferrari is reportedly ready to have a backup driver for the Spanish Grand Prix if Charles Leclerc isn’t able to race. Leclerc had to retire early from the race at Ferrari’s home track after crashing at Parabolica on just the second lap. The 28-year-old was trying to keep ahead of Oscar Piastri when he spun off the track, hit the gravel at high speed, and slammed into the tyre barrier with a 60G impact.
Fortunately, Leclerc was able to get out of the car on his own and didn’t suffer any serious injuries. But he will need some extra medical checks before he can be cleared to race in Madrid this weekend.
To make things worse, while Leclerc’s race ended early at Monza, Kimi Antonelli continued his incredible streak by winning again. This victory helped Antonelli extend his lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 66 points ahead of his teammate George Russell. Antonelli is now the favorite to win the title, while Leclerc sits fifth and might miss the chance to improve if he’s not fit to race.
That’s why Ferrari has a backup plan: Antonio Giovinazzi is on standby, according to RMC Motori. Giovinazzi currently races in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) for Ferrari, a tough series that tests both car reliability and driver stamina. The Italian helped Ferrari win the WEC in 2025, and this year they’re third behind BMW and Toyota.
At 32, Giovinazzi is also Ferrari’s backup F1 driver. He raced in Formula 1 for Sauber and Alfa Romeo from 2017 to 2021. His last F1 race was the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he earned just three points in a tough season.
If Giovinazzi steps in for Leclerc, it would be a great opportunity for him, especially since he’s been waiting for this chance since his last race five years ago. Back in 2022, when asked about his future, he said he definitely wanted to stay in F1, but knew it was out of his hands and decided to focus on doing well in his current races.
Now, four years later, he might finally get the chance to show what he can do for Ferrari as a temporary replacement for Leclerc. So far, Giovinazzi hasn’t had any wins in his 62 Grands Prix, with his best finish being fifth place at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix.