'Leclerc a future F1 champion at Ferrari'

Charles Leclerc has the necessary tools to become a Formula 1 champion in the future, having joined Ferrari ahead of the 2019 season, according to former Scuderia driver Felipe Massa. Leclerc will become Ferrari's second youngest F1 driver in the team's history when he lines up for the Australian Grand Prix.

The Monegasque turned heads with an impressive debut season at Sauber in 2018, which pushed Ferrari to draft him in alongside Sebastian Vettel with Kimi Raikkonen departing the team and taking Leclerc's former seat at the team which recently rebranded to Alfa Romeo.

Leclerc entered F1 with titles in GP3 and Formula 2 under his belt and Massa expects him to complete the set at the highest level.

Massa told Autosport: "The team have a competitive technical structure and very good drivers.

"For me, what Ferrari is doing with Leclerc is very good. This kid can be a super champion in the future.

"And I hope and cheer that this can be in a near future."

Another major change at Ferrari heading into 2019 is Mattia Binotto replacing Maurizio Arrivabene as team principal, a move that Massa says could pay off.

Massa said: "Binotto is a calm guy. He is a guy that has the capacity to work in a calmer way and maybe absorb less of this pressure that you have in Ferrari than Arrivabene.

"But it is a new moment for him. He was never a team principal before.

"We have to see how he will work, because it is an important change.

"He became the boss, but will be on the technical side as well. Speaking the truth, this can be good.

"I wish the best to him, because I know him since I joined Ferrari."

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