Ferrari signs Leclerc's brother to its F1 junior programme

Charles Leclerc scored two wins and seven pole positions on his way to fourth in the F1 championship in his first season with Ferrari in 2019 and that led to a new long-term contract, having risen through the ranks as a Ferrari junior.

Now Ferrari has added Arthur Leclerc to the same Ferrari Driver Academy his brother graduated, after Arthur scored one win, seven further podiums and two fastest laps in his first season of German F4 with US Racing.

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Arthur Leclerc was a late starter in motorsport, contesting his first full season in cars in 2018 where he finished fifth in French F4.

Now he'll join reigning Formula Regional champions Prema - with which Leclerc secured his graduation to F1 with a dominant Formula 2 campaign in 2017 - and won with Frederik Vesti last season in the inaugural year of the category.

"I am really happy to announce that I will drive in Formula Regional with one of the best teams in junior series," said Leclerc.

"I did my very first test in single seaters with Prema two years ago and I have always dreamed to race with them.

"This great opportunity comes with another big chance for me, as I am proud to announce that I am joining the Ferrari Driver Academy.

"I am very grateful for the support and the trust given to me. I cannot wait to be back in the racing seat."

Team principal Angelo Rosin added: "We are absolutely looking forward to having him in our talent pool.

"In the early stages of his career he made the most out his chances to race, so we are confident about the potential for 2020 especially given how we saw him perform as a contender.

"He is an outstanding addition to the team, and our side we are determined to work as hard as we can to make the difference for our drivers."

The Arthur Leclerc announcement came as part of Ferrari revealing its final driver to join its Driver Academy in 2020.

The 17-year-old Brazilian Gianluca Petecof keeps his place on the programme, after finishing fourth and then second respectively in the Italian F4 Championship with Prema.

Petecof will now join Leclerc in the Formula Regional European championship, again with Prema.

The final driver to join the FDA is Swedish karter Dino Beganovic.

After three years of world championship karting, the 15-year-old will mark his first season in cars with a full slate of Italian F4 races, with additional selected German F4 outings.

Beganovic, Leclerc and Petecof join Giuliano Alesi, Marcus Armstrong, Enzo FIttipaldi, Callum Ilott, Mick Schumacher and Robert Shwartzman on the FDA in 2020.