Leclerc well prepared by Ferrari for life in the fast lane

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Charles Leclerc says his formative years with the Ferrari Driver Academy brought him the education and preparation he needs to cope with a career at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Rising from the ranks of competitive karting, Leclerc was taken on and fostered by the Scuderia’s young driver programme as a teenager, graduating from one junior category to the other and establishing himself as a consistent winner.

The end-result has been an entry into the big time with Sauber and a high-profile promotion to Ferrari for 2019 where he’ll be racing alongside four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.

"Growing up in the academy helped me be ready," Leclerc told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Since I was 11 I have been working on the mental side with a coach just to handle the pressure. The mental side is now one of my strengths, when before it was one of my biggest weaknesses.

"Now we will see the fruits," he added.

Leclerc's mental strength built on grief and personal loss

Leclerc’s confidence has grown this season on the back of his impressive performances with Sauber, to the point where he believes that he’ll challenge Vettel for top honours at the Scuderia in 2019.

The Monegasque insists however that one should not interpret his burning ambition as arrogance.

"I want to clarify some newspaper headlines that I did not like," he said.

"They didn't understand the spirit of my statement and called me arrogant but that's not the message I wanted to convey.

"As a driver I think it's fair to say that I do not go to Ferrari to aim for fourth place. That's not what I want to do. I always think about winning," added Leclerc.

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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.