Charles Leclerc had Jules Bianchi advice in mind in Ferrari F1 test

Four days after his debut outing in a current F1 car when he drove in first practice for Haas ahead of the British Grand Prix, GP3 championship leader Leclerc was back at Silverstone in a Ferrari for Tuesday's test.

Leclerc only managed 18 laps, with 17 of those in the session before lunch prior to a power-unit issue and rain confining him to the garage for most of the afternoon.

The 18-year-old Monegasque later conceded he is still inspired by Bianchi, who died a year ago after failing to emerge from a coma following his crash in the Japanese Grand Prix nine months earlier.

"I knew him from when I was really, really young," said Leclerc.

"He was my godfather and he helped me with most of the things in racing.

"Obviously now it's hard without him because he always helped me, and I miss his help.

"He advised me really well in the past, and all his comments he gave me in the past I keep in mind and try not to make the errors he told me not to do."

Bianchi was a product of the Ferrari driver academy who looked destined for a future race seat with the Scuderia.

Launched at the end of 2009, the FDA scheme has yet to produce a Ferrari race driver but Leclerc is certain it will happen.

"Jules was one of the talents who would have gone there if the things that happened hadn't have happened," added Leclerc.

"But I'm definitely confident the driver academy will have someone who will make it into the top team."

Despite having so few laps, Leclerc said his experience with Ferrari was still "very special".

Comparing his Haas outing to that with Ferrari, Leclerc said: "It's two different things.

"In FP1 with Haas that was mostly for the team because they had a weekend after, and I had to work for them and do as many kilometres for them as possible.

"With Ferrari it was a long day so we could plan it a bit better.

"Unfortunately we couldn't do many laps because of a little problem on the old power unit, but both experiences have been amazing.

"It's still good to get experience in two different Formula 1 cars.

"The more cars I try, and the different ways I see of working, the more experience I get."