Ferrari has officially announced Charles Leclerc as a race driver alongside Sebastian Vettel in 2019.
The news is merely a formality after Kimi Raikkonen confirmed he would be returning to Sauber next season on a two-year deal, where the Monegasque is currently racing.
While there was a desire from the new hierarchy at Maranello to delay the promotion until 2020, the decision to go ahead with a contract initially signed by former chairman Sergio Marchionne marks a bold step by the Scuderia, who are not known for promoting their young drivers.
The case of Leclerc is unique, however, after dominating the first F2 season in 2017 and impressing in his rookie season with Sauber, scoring points on five occasions.
“Dreams do come true… I’ll be driving for Scuderia Ferrari for the 2019 Formula 1 World Championship,” he wrote on Twitter.
“I will be eternally grateful to Ferrari for the opportunity given. To [my manager] Nicolas Todt for supporting me since 2011 [and] to my family, to a person that is not part of this world anymore but to whom I owe everything of what is happening to me, Papa.
“To Jules [Bianchi], thank you for all the things you learnt me, we will never forget you, and to all the persons that supported me and believed in me.
“I will work harder than ever to not disappoint you. But first, there is a season to finish with an amazing team that gave me the opportunity to fight and show my potential. Let’s go Sauber!”
