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By his own high standards, a solitary point from tenth position for Formula One rookie Charles Leclerc was a “disappointing” outcome at the French Grand Prix for the backmarker Sauber team.
Having qualified at a career-best eighth and given Sauber their first Q3 berth in three years, the 20-year-old Monegasque driver rued his self-professed mistake when attempting to pressure the more experience Kevin Magnussen.
Losing time and a position to Nico Hulkenberg cost Leclerc a result better than tenth.
However, what it ultimately demonstrated was the determination and maturity of the young driver in only his eighth race.
Sitting thirteenth in the championship, having already equalled the career tally of points scored by his teammate and veteran of 84 Grand Prix in Marcus Ericsson, Leclerc has already done more than justify the hype surrounding his entrance to Formula One.
Earmarked as a future Ferrari superstar, the junior of the fabled Scuderia has been one of few drivers in recent history to achieve success in the feeder categories arrive to the pinnacle of open-wheel racing and make an immediate impact.
Despite starting the season in arrears of his Swedish teammate, from Azerbaijan onwards there have been points scoring finishes in four of the past five races.
Leclerc has also displayed great tenacity, holding his ground against established world champions such as Fernando Alonso in wheel-to-wheel combat.
The question that begs answering now is what 2019 holds for Leclerc and whether it see him ensconced in the scarlet of Ferrari.
Given that his future lies at Maranello, would taking on Leclerc as early as his sophomore season be a gamble worth taking for the Scuderia?
Perhaps it indeed could be, with there potentially being more to gain than lose.
Kimi Räikkönen has been a fine servant for Ferrari across both his tenures, but he’s been just a servant doing their bidding.
Plagued by ill strategy and consigned to be in the shadow of Sebastian Vettel, it seems unlikely that the 2007 world champion will have success again in Formula One.
Sebastian Vettel . (GEPA Pictures/Red Bull Content Pool).
Rather than having to endure another season of the 38-year-old relegated to that undesirable role, it would of benefit Ferrari to nurture the young Leclerc at the highest level, giving them a driver that will bring success in the long term.
In the short term, Ferrari would receive a boost in their bid for the constructor’s championship. Something which, despite Vettel’s title bid this year, they are unable to stay on par with the Silver Arrows for.
It is a considerable gamble for Ferrari to take, given that they are not known for signing drivers with little Formula One experience, but one that will justify their young drivers programme.
In eight Formula One races, Leclerc has already done enough to show his maturity in a team which has been a backmarker for several years now. Particularly when you consider his prodigious career in the junior categories, which built the hype around the Ferrari prodigy.
Now the ball is in Ferrari’s court and they could make a bold statement for their future, similar to what Red Bull did by promoting Max Verstappen as still a teenager.
For after all, Formula One is transitioning into a new era and drivers too are entering a new generation.
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