Leclerc can lead Ferrari like Schumacher - Todt

Charles Leclerc has been backed to lead Ferrari in the same way that Michael Schumacher did in the team's glory years by the German's team principal Jean Todt.

Schumacher's hands-on approach in the Scuderia's run of title success is legendary, with the era's looser testing rules ensuring a constant development of Ferrari's most dominant cars.

While a now bloated calendar and financial controls mean testing is heavily restricted, Leclerc has helped boost morale at Ferrari in his own way in recent weeks, securing victories in Belgium and Italy – the team's first Monza win since 2010.

Ferrari boss turned FIA president Todt says that Leclerc is the man to lead both Ferrari and Formula 1 into new eras.

"Charles is extremely strong mentally, has the makings of a great champion and the same natural way to lead a team as Michael Schumacher once did," Todt told AutoBild.

"He represents the future of Formula 1 and Ferrari."

Leclerc previously missed out on potential victories in Bahrain and Austria after securing pole position in each race.

An engine issue opened the door for Mercedes in Sakhir, but Leclerc was perhaps guilty of not slamming it on Max Verstappen as the Red Bull man carved through the field in Spielberg.

Leclerc said he had learned from that disappointment when fending off Lewis Hamilton in Monza and former Ferrari man Gerhard Berger praised the steely determination that lies beneath Leclerc's calm and composed exterior.

"Leclerc is anything but the nice boy next door. He is a racer with killer instinct," Berger told AutoBild.

"That's why he's so good because it's not right to run and wave through your opponent."

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