Vettel: No rush for Ferrari to sign Leclerc

Sebastian Vettel says there is "no rush" for Ferrari to sign Charles Leclerc as his team-mate in 2019. The Monegasque driver has been linked with a promotion to the Scuderia for next season as Kimi Raikkonen's replacement after making an impressive Formula 1 bow with Sauber.

Reports in Italy have claimed that Leclerc has been offered a €5million two-year deal to partner Vettel, having followed GP3 and Formula 2 title successes with a strong start to life in F1 - vastly outscoring team-mate Marcus Ericsson.

Vettel is sure that Leclerc will be a future star, but says he remains happy with Raikkonen as his team-mate, which would allow Leclerc to build his experience before stepping up.

Vettel said: "I think Charles, one way or the other, will have a great career. He is a great guy, he is fast and has everything.

"He has no rush. He is young, but if you are young you are always in a rush with everything!

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"I don't know when or what and ultimately who [my team-mate will be]. It doesn't really matter to me.

"I like Kimi. We get along, and we have never had any issues.

"Sometimes on track I remember I drove into him and crashed into him, but the way we handle things is very similar and very straightforward."

Raikkonen has been linked with moves to former teams Sauber and McLaren if Ferrari do not opt to retain his services and the veteran says he will have little say over the team's decision, despite sitting third in the drivers' championship.

"The team knows my side of the story, but obviously it's their decision and that's how it's been many years in the past," he said.

"It's been no secret that I have often had one-year deals. You need to ask them. In many ways, I am interested to know what I will do, and not just in my own life, but also my family, they are keen to know.

"Like I said, it's not in my hands really. So I don't know, [the championship position] doesn't really make an awful lot of difference.

"I think we know in the team what we are doing and what we expect from all of us, from each other. The result on paper, yeah it looks good or bad depending on the races, but I don't think it is purely a case of where you suddenly are in the championship.

"Obviously it's better to be higher up than lower down, but, yeah, I don't know."