There's plenty of junior talent waiting for their chance to break into Formula 1. But few come close to possessing the buzz and pedigree of Charles Leclerc.
Still just 19 years old, Leclerc is already the reigning GP3 champion. It will take a massive upset to stop him walking away with this year's Formula 2 title. If he succeeds, he would be the first rookie to win the feeder series since Nico Hulkenberg became GP2 champion in 2009.
He's started from pole six times in his maiden season. It would have been a record-breaking seventh if his car hadn't failed technical inspection in Hungary.
Now in this month's in-season Formula 1 test with Ferrari, he topped the opening day's times. If he wasn't there already, it put him firmly on every team principals' wish list of future star prospects.
"Seeing my name in the media more often and having it linked to Formula 1 and Ferrari is nice," Leclerc told the official Formula 1. website.
“There’s never a day goes by when I don’t think about what I want to achieve. I always give a hundred percent to get there.
"Being in Formula 1 is my dream and my goal and I am doing everything I can to make it happen,” he added.
"Racing for the Scuderia would be the realisation of a dream.
"But for now I have to focus solely on winning in F2, on giving it my all over the next few months. If I don’t succeed then I won’t really go much further."
Leclerc says that being part of the Ferrari Driver Academy has been key to his rapid rise to success in motorsport. It will be just as crucial to his hopes of making it into the Grand Prix paddock.
"Being part of an organisation like the FDA is very important," he agreed.
"Formula 1 is a somewhat closed world. Therefore, to be able to progress in the best possible environment is essential when working one’s way up to Formula 1.
"It also means I have regular access to the Scuderia’s incredible simulator," he pointed out. "For a youngster it's an ideal way to improve one’s technique. It also provides the best possible preparation for each race."
"They give me amazing support in terms of my physical and mental preparation," he continued. "I feel stronger and have grown up a lot recently.
"I was helped a lot by the psychologists at the FDA, who made me realise how important it is for all of us to be mentally strong. Especially if you are working as a racing driver.
"Today, I am more self-aware. Racing is the biggest thing in my life, but I know there are other things in life and it’s from them that I must draw even more energy."
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