Prema boss says Leclerc deserves F1 seat

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Charles Leclerc is blitzing the field in F2 this season, and his Prema Racing boss Rene Rosin says it would make no sense if the 19-year-old is not in F1 next year.

The Monegasque and Ferrari junior has dominated the F2 feeder series so far and is linked to a race seat in 2018 with the Ferrari-powered Sauber team, along with Antonio Giovinazzi.

If Leclerc fails to graduate to the big time, it would call into question the very purpose of motorsport's junior categories says Rosin, who applies the same reasoning to Giovinazzi and to Red Bull's Pierre Gasly.

"Drivers like Antonio, like Pierre, like Charles should be in Formula 1 because they fully deserve it," Rosin told Autosport.

"How Charles is managing everything this year is something really incredible so he really deserves a chance.

Ferrari 'would be the realisation of a dream' for Leclerc

"I think that they have to put him in the car, otherwise what's the sense of the junior formulas? What's the sense of Formula 1 either if we are not able to promote the best drivers to the field?

Leclerc's path to the pinnacle of racing has been flawless with championships and titles acquired along the way, and an F2 crown which now appears almost certain.

"Stoffel Vandoorne now is in Formula 1, but also in the beginning he was parked in Super Formula," adds Rosin.

"If these drivers are not able to get into Formula 1, what is the sense in having Formula 2, Formula 3 and Formula 4 - these kids are all dreaming of F1, and if they're not able to do that there's no sense in it."

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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.