Leclerc ready for F1, with Sauber in his line of sight

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Formula 2 winner Charles Leclerc feels he will be ready to step up to Grand Prix racing next season, providing a seat can be found for the Ferrari junior.

The 19-year-old is blitzing the field this year in F2, and winning the championship would undoubtedly set him up nicely for a move to F1 although the Monegasque remains calm in the face of speculation.

"In my career I have always taken it step by step, so now I am trying to win the Formula 2 title and then I would like to go to F1," he told Italy's Corriere della Sera.

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Asked if, as a F1 team boss, he would sign him up for 2018, Leclerc answered: "I would, because I feel ready.

"Would I be willing to wait another year? I would prefer no, because if I win the F2 championship I cannot defend the title, so waiting would not help me."

Rumours of a possible opening for Leclerc at Sauber have gathered pace since the Swiss canceled its engine supply deal with Honda and extended its partnership with Ferrari.

Ultimately, the House of Maranello is obviously where Charles Leclerc would like to take up residency.

"The big dream is to wear red and I hope that one day it will become reality. But I also think of everything, as long as it is F1."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.