Leclerc pays tribute to Vettel from whom he 'learned so much'

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Charles Leclerc paid tribute to Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel, insisting he had learned so much from the four-time world champion.

Ferrari and Vettel announced on Tuesday that they had jointly agreed to go their separate ways at the end of this year after, a decision that elevates Leclerc's status to team leader.

Vettel: Financial matters played no part in joint decision

"It's been a huge honor for me to be your team mate," Leclerc wrote on Twitter.

"We've had some tense moments on tracks. Some very good ones and some others that didn't end as we both wanted, but there was always respect, even though it wasn't perceive this way from the outside."

Leclerc's rise to prominence last season on the back of the Monegasque's maiden Grand Prix wins likely weighed on Vettel's decision.

From the outset of the 2019 campaign, Vettel was pressured by the 22-year-old charger, a weight that first transpired in Sochi when the German ignored a pre-race agreement and refused to cede back his position to Leclerc.

But tensions came to a head in Brazil where the two drivers collided and veered off course, leaving team principal Mattia Binotto to manage the crisis.

Fortunately, the inner-team rivalry between Leclerc and Vettel did not escalate off the track where respect continued to govern the pair's working relationship.

"I've never learnt so much as I did with you as my teammate," Leclerc added.

"Thank you for everything Seb."

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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.