Former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone underestimated the impact of Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, he admits.

While most were expecting big things from the Monegasque, who followed his junior success with a strong rookie season at Sauber, the 84-year-old was a little more sceptical of his early promotion.

However, having matched Sebastian Vettel for most of the first four races, and only missing out on victory in Bahrain due to an engine problem, Ecclestone has completed a U-turn.

"I was wrong, I thought that sending Raikkonen away was not a good move," he told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I will wait a while before giving a final judgment, of course, but at the moment Charles seems super-fast. He has great control of the car and he is even, perhaps, faster than Vettel."

Given the friendship Bernie struck with the four-time world champion, that is a big statement, although the Briton still has faith in Vettel.

"Seb isn't old: what's happening to him is strange," he said.

"Maybe he thought he had an easy life and didn't realise how fast Charles could be, but I remain convinced that Vettel can win the championship."

Also Read:

• Leclerc accepts Ferrari 'hierarchy' but 'will do anything' to change it
• Leclerc/Vettel dynamic is 'damaging' Ferrari's season - Villeneuve
• Albon: No teammate will beat Leclerc by a big margin

The only reason the German remains narrowly ahead of Leclerc in the Drivers' standings is because of team orders which cost the 21-year-old in Melbourne and China.

And Ecclestone was unhappy with Ferrari for their decision to favour Vettel straight away.

"That, at this stage of the season, is out of place," he stated. "These are things that are done later [in the year] when there is a clearer picture. Now nobody knows what the season will take."