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Former team boss Leclerc: "Year extra at Sauber would've been better"

18:26, 11 Sep 2018

byNicolás Quarles van Ufford

Charles Leclerc will be making the massive step up from Sauber to Ferrari after one year in the Formula One, and his former team boss Frits van Amersfoort thinks the Monegasque would've been better off staying at Sauber.

Van Amersfoort introduced the now 20-year-old Leclerc to single seated racing back in 2015, before Leclerc moved on to GP3 in 2016 (where he won the title) and Formula 2 in 2017 (where he won the title). It's been a remarkable rise through the ranks for Leclerc, who will now be under the brightest of lights at Ferrari from next season onwards.

"Of course, it's amazing news and a big honour for him," van Amersfoort told Motorsport.

"We're very proud of him as a team.

"We've had drivers in the F1 before, but never at Ferrari.

"I hope the team gives him the chance to grow further and that they don't make life too difficult for him."

However, in the opinion of the boss of Van Amersfoort racing in Formula 3 and Formula 4, Leclerc would've been better off staying at either Sauber or Haas for another year before making such a big move.

"Another year at Sauber or Haas would've been better, I think.

"Ferrari apparently have great faith in him, and that's saying something.

"I don't think Leclerc will be the squire of Vettel, he won't let any chance go untaken to prove how good he is.

"So let's look at it positively: it's an enormous opportunity for the kid and a dream come true."