Day 5 of Blogmas and I am yet to give up!
With the news that Kimi Raikkonen would be replaced at Ferrari from next season by young Monegasque; Charles Leclerc, I started thinking. Again.
My initial reaction was not a good one. Career suicide, comes to mind. At only 21 years of age, with only one years of Formula One experience under his belt, I believed this was not a good move for the Ferrari prodigy.
Born on 16th October 1997, Charles has been a racing superstar from an early age. A good friend of the late Jules Bianchi, Leclerc won his first karting championship in his first year of competitive kart racing. In 2010, he went onto win the prestigious "Junior Monaco Kart Cup," just like many Formula One drivers before him. The future was looking bright.
2014 and the rising superstar got his first taste of single seaters, by racing in Formula Renault 2.0 Alps Championship, in which he eventually finished as runner up. Since then he has participated in series such as Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, FIA Formula 3 European Championship and the world renowned race; Macau GP.
In 2016, Leclerc made his official GP3 debut with ART. After claiming three victories that season, he took the title in the final round in Abu Dhabi. The first title in his single seater career.
2017 arrived and the Monegasque moved onto Formula 2. A season which outlined Leclerc as the real deal. For example, round one, Bahrain, Sprint race. An unusual decision by his then team; Prema Racing, to pit Leclerc mid race. Something which is almost unheard of in a sprint race. Ultimately, dropping him down to 14th. No other cars were to pit and with that Leclerc had work to do. However, this didn't stop the then 19 year old and with fresher tyres he overtook the field, taking the chequered flag in 1st. A stand out performance. One we are yet to forget.
And then, there's his move to Formula 1. Confirmed in December 2017, Leclerc would race against Swede; Marcus Ericsson.
In recent years Sauber have been no where. Very little points had been scored and the team's drivers making very little impact on the championship standings. Until Charles Leclerc came along, that is. With frequent Q3 appearances and point finishes, Sauber were starting to bounce back. A sixth place finish in Azerbaijan, Leclerc's best of the season, started to turn people's heads and the rumours began. Could this kid really drive for Ferrari next season? You betch ya!
I, myself, am a big advocate when it comes to experience in Formula One. Look at Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll, for example. A jump straight from Formula 3 to Formula 1, isn't ideal. Drivers need the experience. Formula Two should be mandatory. You have to work hard to achieve your dreams, not everything is handed to one on a silver platter. Something is special about Verstappen though. Stroll; not so much. Both, I believe, could have found a trip to Formula 2 to be very handy indeed. But it is how it is.
Right now you're telling me that Leclerc did Formula 2. I know. But, in this case, an extra year in a midfield team such as Haas would most likely make the youngster's skills even more pristine.
But, you know what? The second half of the season changed my mind. Leclerc doesn't need that extra year near the bottom. He overtook a Red Bull in a Sauber at Abu Dhabi. If anything, this has taught me that experience isn't everything, if you have the talent. Being thrown in at the deep end will make Leclerc. Having 4x World Champion; Sebastian Vettel has is teammate will make Leclerc. Ferrari will most definitely be the making of Leclerc. 2019 Formula One World Champion at 22 years old? Watch this space!
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