As the Sauber Junior Team continues preparations for its inaugural season in 2019, the programme is pleased to confirm Arthur Leclerc as the development driver that completes its line-up in the F4 category.
Sauber Motorsport, which runs the Alfa Romeo Racing entry in Formula 1, has partnered with Charouz Racing System to launch a unique initiative that aims to support and develop the skills of a carefully-selected group of young drivers in the F2, F3 and, in association with US Racing, the F4 categories.
Arthur, the younger brother of Scuderia Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc, becomes the ninth and final driver to join the driver development programme.
The Monégasque driver will race alongside reigning South East Asia F4 champion Alessandro Ghiretti, Czech Republic National Team karting graduate Roman Staněk, and French F4 Junior Champion Théo Pourchaire in the squad, which competes under the US Racing – CHRS banner.
All four drivers will race in the ADAC F4 Championship and at selected rounds of the Italian F4 Championship under the watchful eye of Ralf Schumacher and Gerhard Ungar, the principals of reigning Teams’ champions US Racing in the German series.
Arthur graduates to the Sauber Junior Team after successfully completing his first season of car racing in French F4. The 18-year-old finished P5 in the series points after claiming two wins and eight podiums.
The Sauber Junior Team by US Racing – CHRS squad will not run at the official ADAC F4 test in Oschersleben this week, having already completed four days of successful private testing at the track.
The opening round of the ADAC F4 Championship will take place at Oschersleben on 26-28 April.
Frédéric Vasseur, CEO Sauber Motorsport AG, said: “It is a pleasure to see the Sauber Junior Team’s driver line-up for the 2019 FIA Formula 4 Championship be completed by Arthur Leclerc joining the team.”
“Arthur has demonstrated his dedication and skills over the course of the past year while competing in the French F4 Championship and will now take his next step by competing on an international level. The Sauber Junior Team will set out to challenge teams in F2, F3 and F4 with a strong selection of drivers this season. We look forward to following their progress closely.”
Antonin Charouz, Charouz Racing System owner, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Arthur Leclerc to complete our F4 driver line-up. He has already shown talent and determination at the wheel and we look forward to helping him develop his potential throughout the season ahead.”
“Together with our other F4 drivers I believe we will be represented by a top team of rising stars and I look forward to the season getting underway later this month.”
Arthur Leclerc said: “I’m super excited to be part of the Sauber Junior Team. It’s a serious programme that is affiliated to an F1 team and my brother was part of Sauber as well during 2018.”
“This is an opportunity that means a lot to me. My car will be completely different and much faster than the F4 car I drove in France, but my target is to win and move on to the next racing category. It’s been great to work with the guys at US Racing and Charouz. It’s a proper team and I already feel really confident with them and the car.”