Leclerc confident that he is ready for Formula 1

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc has insisted that he is ready to step up to Formula 1 after completing every step that he can in junior racing series to progress to the crown jewel of motorsport. After becoming the champion of the GP3 Series in 2016, the Monégasque driver graduated to Formula 2 - F1's feeder series.

Since arriving on the highly competitive F2 grid in Bahrain, Leclerc has dominated the series, claiming seven consecutive pole positions, four feature race wins, one sprint race win, and two further podiums, allowing him to go into the summer break with a 50 point lead at the top of the Drivers' Championship.

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Leclerc tested for Ferrari at F1's in-season test in Hungary, topping the first day, and has also had a number of practice outings with Haas F1 last year in Britain, Hungary, and Belgium. Through this, he feels prepared to make his F1 debut.

"I have done every possible step in junior formulas, so yeah, I feel ready now," said Leclerc in a video interview with the official F1 website. "Obviously it's quite a big step to F1, but I think I've done every possible step that was useful for me and I don't think there are any other steps I need to do before coming to Formula 1."

Talking about testing with Ferrari, the driver said that "It felt so good to be back in a Formula 1 car, and to be with Ferrari is something very, very special, that words can't describe. I love the car, I love the car to drive, I can attack, and it's exactly what I want to do in a racing car – it fits me quite well, I really like it."

Despite aiming for a Formula 1 drive, Leclerc remained level headed and focused on his F2 campaign with Prema Racing. "I still need to keep working, there still four races to go, so we need to keep pushing, try to keep impressing, like we have done since the start of the season," he said. "It won't be easy, but I will push for that. It obviously feels amazing what we have done since the beginning of the season and if we finish it like this then it will feel perfect."

Leclerc could get his chance in Formula 1 next year, with Sauber reportedly becoming a junior team for Ferrari according to Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of the prancing horse. Leclerc is a candidate for this seat, although Antonio Giovinazzi is said to be the preferred candidate due to his FP1 outings with Haas in 2017 and simulator work that he has performed for Ferrari this season.

Chris Soulsby