What F1 can expect from Ferrari's prodigy
Ferrari prodigy Charles Leclerc romped to the 2017 Formula 2 title, and now he gets his Formula 1 graduation with Sauber. Here's what we can expect from a seriously exciting talent
Charles Leclerc is confident, yet humble. Excitable, yet focused. Riding the crest of a wave all the way to Formula 1. He spent much of 2017 building momentum in a sensational rookie Formula 2 campaign, while often being spotted playing football or tennis next to the paddock-parked trucks. In short, he's a special and likeable talent.
After claiming seven wins and eight poles on his way to the F2 crown, as well as making four FP1 appearances for Sauber last year, Leclerc was signed as a race driver for the Swiss squad in 2018.
Share Or Save This Story
Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.
A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.
More from Alex Kalinauckas
The critical element Haas needed for Hulkenberg to crack an old F1 weakness
What happened the last time Verstappen did community service
Norris “proud’ of McLaren’s mini-DRS effect after Baku impact intrigue
Norris warns F1 will lose "rawness" if FIA clamps down on radio swearing
Magnussen: FIA "punishing ridiculous things" is "not the F1 I love"
Has Qatar overtaken Singapore as F1's hardest race?
The two Hulkenberg errors that boosted Colapinto and Bearman in Baku
Piastri's brilliance is both saving and causing problems for McLaren
Latest news
MotoGP Japanese GP: Acosta scores maiden pole, Martin 11th after crash
Singapore GP steward Herbert explains Verstappen’s FIA swearing penalty
Singapore Grand Prix rights owner charged in former transport minister gifts case
Why Vila Real and Salzburg are missing from the 2025 DTM calendar
Autosport Plus
Jon Noble: Why even F1’s cleverest minds get lost in explaining rollercoaster season
Can Alpine’s latest regime change shift its course?
What happened the last time Verstappen did community service
Why long Sainz courtship was only one factor in eventual Williams union
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.