Charles Leclerc will start next season with his eyes on the 2019 Formula One title along with Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.
Ferrari has taken the young talent Leclerc, from Sauber to replace the United States Grand Prix winner Kimi Raikkonen as Vettel’s team mate.
Leclerc was unable to finish five out of nine races due to multiple reasons, which made him stand on 15th position on the driver’s championship list.
But Monegasque marked his presence with his debut season for which he was appraised in F1 circles. Vettel also commented on his performance, “He has used his opportunities, scored points with a car that doesn’t belong in the points. So, he is doing everything he can.”
Leclerc proved to be one of the most talented young drivers on F1 grid, for which he has been given an opportunity to grow at Ferrari.
Ocon, Mercedes development driver, thinks that Leclerc will prove to be a challenge for Hamilton and Vettel, who have been battling for the crown.
“I think Charles will challenge for the title in 2019. At least it wouldn’t be a surprise to me,” Ocon said.
“I know he has very good talent and is one of the quickest guys out there.
“I think both Charles – who turned 21 the Tuesday before Austin – and Pierre [Gasly] will fight for wins and podiums in 2019.
“We’ve been fighting all the way through, to be honest, me Charles and Pierre. Me and Charles more than with Pierre, because Pierre started a bit later in karting.
“In the French championship I was winning and then I was fighting with Charles, and Charles was arriving and he was a rookie.
“[So] I know him pretty well. The first race we raced together was in 2005 in Mini Karts, we were seven or eight years old.
“All our career we’ve been fighting like this together. I know he has a very good talent from day one. He’s one of the quickest guys out there. I think he will show that next year, definitely.”
Ocon is expected to lose his engagement with Force India to Lance stroll. However, he has potential which will not go un-noticed as Claire Williams said it will be unfair not to consider Ocon for a seat on Williams team. But Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, does not seemed to be in hasted and might wait for another year before joining F1.
Wolff said, “Where he is in his career, we are not desperate for a seat next year. We are prepared to play the long game.
“Eventually he is going to be somebody that is going to be successful in Formula One. If it means having a sabbatical year, then I’m fine with it.”
