Ferrari junior driver and Formula 2 championship leader, Charles Leclerc is to participate in four Friday morning practice sessions between now and the end of 2017 it has been confirmed.

The Monegasque, who has been phenomenal for Prema in F2 and is on course to wrap up the title as soon as next month at Jerez, has long been linked with a seat at the Swiss team for 2018 as the Scuderia look to use their new engine deal with Sauber as a launch pad for their young drivers.

The 19-year-old, who also participated in the post-Hungarian Grand Prix test for Ferrari, will get his chance to show his skills in the Sauber C36 at Sepang next weekend before also being in the car at the three pan-American races in Austin, Mexico City and Sao Paulo.

Leclerc's main competition for the anticipated seat alongside Marcus Ericsson next year is current Ferrari third driver Antonio Giovinazzi, who is also gaining F1 experience by appearing for Haas in a number of Practice 1 sessions before the end of the season.