Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff says Charles Leclerc's performance in Bahrain backed up why he was always seen as a "threat" this season.

 The young Monegasque had a steady start to life with Ferrari in Australia, but in the desert, the potential that was seen at Sauber last year was unleashed as he claimed pole and dominated the race on Sunday.

Of course, the final result wouldn't reflect that as an engine issue dropped Leclerc to third, but Wolff gave the 21-year-old the highest compliment possible post-race.

“In Leclerc, I think we are seeing a young champion in the making who was the emotional winner,” the Mercedes boss stated.

“[He was] the fastest man in the fastest machine but he has gotten all the cruel side of motor racing, and it was our fortune."

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When it was confirmed he would replacing Kimi Raikkonen for 2019, many predictions suggested he could very easily challenge Sebastian Vettel's superiority at Ferrari.

And Wolff admits his team were not taking him lightly either.

“We have always expected him to be a threat. He’s in a great car and has the skills and the character to be very successful," he explained.

“It’s a challenge that we really enjoy, and that I’m sure Valtteri and Lewis will enjoy [because] we want to fight against the best ones in the best machines.

“When you see Lewis fighting Sebastian today [Sunday], in a car and engine that wasn’t on Sebastian’s level, I think that motivates them even more.”

More than just his speed though, it was Leclerc's calmness that was noted, with Toto issuing a small dig towards Max Verstappen.

"The combination of the speed and the personality and being able to temper your emotions in both directions is a great ingredient," Wolff said.

“I know that many other drivers who have the lion in them would have reacted in a much more controversial way about the third place, they would have been angry and would have displayed that.

“None of that we see with Charles.”

Finally, the Mercedes chief is also fascinated by the internal battle now developing at Ferrari between Leclerc and Vettel.

“I don’t know if I see all the calls, but there was one call that was, ‘Stay behind for the next two laps’ [which Charles then ignored],” Wolff noted.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing how it pans out. I was there many years ago!”