Ferrari Team Principal Maurizio Arrivabene has made it clear both Antonio Giovinazzi and Charles Leclerc would have to excel in Formula 1 machinery before being considered for a seat with the Scuderia.
Giovinazzi had his first opportunity to do so when he was thrust into the Sauber car for the first two races of this season, replacing an injured Pascal Wehrlein. Though the Italian showed good single lap pace and finished 12th in Australia, China would be a different story as he crashed in the cold, damp conditions in qualifying and the race.
As for Leclerc, he has dominated the F2 season claiming pole at all but two events and winning five times. As a result, the Monegasque will look to wrap up the title at his first attempt when the series heads to Jerez for a standalone event next month.
Both are set to complete a number of Practice 1 sessions between now and the end of the year at Haas and Sauber respectively, with the likely outcome of one joining Marcus Ericsson at the Swiss team for 2018.
Traditionally, however, Ferrari juniors have had trouble completing the ladder and racing for the Italian team compared to say the young drivers at Red Bull. Felipe Massa was one that did but Sergio Perez eventually left to join McLaren in 2013 and Jules Bianchi would suffer his tragic crash but also found it hard to move up from Marussia despite two impressive years.
It was hoped the arrival of Arrivabene and a change in the Ferrari mentality would change that but as the retention of an often underwhelming Kimi Raikkonen for 2018 proved that doesn’t seem the case.
“[Sebastian] Vettel and Raikkonen went through the last three years with great co-operating within them. They feel very good together, being part of the team and translating this spirit to the overall team,” Arrivabene said defending the decision. “I think we don’t find any reason why not confirming them together.”
He would offer hope to the likes of Leclerc and Giovinazzi that they can fulfil their dream but, as you would expect, set a very high requirement for them to meet if they wish to do so.
“They are growing,” Arrivabene said. “Our objective is, of course, to grow up young drivers and maybe to see them in the future with us.This is the final goal but, before that, they need to demonstrate in Formula 1 that they deserve it.”
