Sebastian Vettel has been excused from taking part in Thursday's media day at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The German had been lined up to join his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in the press conference at Yas Marina, this after their collision two weeks ago in Brazil.

Instead, it will be the Monegasque left alone to bat away the questions from eager journalists after Vettel became a father for the third time on Wednesday and won't arrive in the Middle East until this evening.

Still at least its a convenient reason to put off changing those first diapers for a few days at least!