Charles Leclerc, the man from Monaco, has impressed the F1 paddock and fans alike on his debut year, frequently outdriving his Sauber Alfa Romeo in a manner akin to Alonso in a Minardi, Senna in a Tolman or Schumacher in a Jordan. 
With Ferrari knowing that Kimi wants to retire, a story broken on TJ13 last week, Ferrari boss Sergio Marchionne has to make plans to replace Sebastian Vettel’s 38 year old team mate.
#TJ13 #F1 – LeClerc at Ferrari, here's the reason – It's about Kimi https://t.co/zaEDtE4Ee7 pic.twitter.com/4COgxgHs6D
— TheJudge13 (@thejudge13) June 21, 2018
Another piece in the jigsaw has fallen into place today, with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport printing in their paper a confirmation from Marchionne that Leclerc has got the drive for 2019 and 2020.
The boy from Monaco has stormed into F1 but has also had an impressive record prior to F1, with multiple Kart championship wins between 2005 and 2013.
In 2014, Leclerc graduated to single-seaters, racing in the Formula Renault 2.0 Alps championship for British team Fortec Motorsports. During the season, he took seven podium positions, including a double victory at Monza, to finish runner-up in the championship behind Nyck de Vries.
Leclerc also won the Junior Championship title at the final race of the season in Jerez, finishing ahead of Russian teenager Matevos Isaakyan.
Leclerc then took part in a partial Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 season with Fortec as a guest driver.
In the six races he contested he finished on the podium three times, taking a second place at the Nürburgring followed by a pair of second-place finishes at the Hungaroring.
His record in GP3 (2016) and F2 (2017) really turned heads – winning both Championships whilst also testing for Haas and Sauber.
For 2018 and his debut in F1, the Monegasque started to string a long series of surprising results, bringing in the first points finish of 2018 for Sauber.
Incredibly last time out at Paul Ricard circuit for the French Grand Prix, Leclerc manage to put his Sauber into Q3 and finished the race in the points again.
According to Sky whilst interviewing Leclerc:
“People from outside expect more from us, and this is always difficult because we still have to improve, but the others also improve.
However, yes … A Q3 in Austria would still be incredible. We must not expect to make a Q3 any weekend, which will not be the case. But yes, we will do everything possible to live a positive weekend like that of France ”
According to what is reported in today’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ferrari’s Sergio Marchionne has confirmed that Leclerc will sit alongside Sebastian Vettel as early as 2019.
The first year will earn him two million euros per season rising to three in 2020 as well as bonuses related to the results.
The official announcement could already arrive in Germany, or between Spa and Monza.
Not much of a vote of confidence when Ferrari are paying him $5M over 2 years………..
You don’t know how much they already have paid for him to get him to this point. The seat at Sauber this year would have cost Ferrari some money. So adding some investment costs to that 5M and it is not such a bad deal.
Leclerc is reportedly earning $150,000 a year at Sauber. Ocon at Force India is reported to earn $3M a year and M-B has paid for much of his development. Vandoorne makes $7M at McLaren and they paid for development. That’s why the red flags get raised on this story. If the salary number is true for Leclerc only Williams and Toro Rosso will be paying heir drivers less than him in 2019 – and that’s where this story breaks down.
premature ejaculation as per usual on this site…..
for the record we’re not saying this is a done deal, if you read the article then you would know that
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