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Vettel urges Leclerc not to "waste" being "most talented driver in F1"

Photo: © LAT Images

Vettel urges Leclerc not to "waste" being "most talented driver in F1"

Vettel left a message on his helmet after swapping lids with Leclerc

Departing Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel has declared Charles Leclerc the "most talented driver" in Formula 1 after the two ended their relationship as team-mates in Abu Dhabi.

Leclerc joined Vettel at Ferrari in 2019 as the replacement for Kimi Raikkonen and such has been the impression left on four-time champion Vettel by the Monégasque, he ranks the 23-year-old ahead of even Lewis Hamilton in terms of pure talent.

The pair swapped helmets after the Abu Dhabi season finale and Vettel wrote a touching tribute to his now-former team-mate.

He wrote: "To Charles, you are the most talented driver I came across in 15 years of F1. Don't waste it. But be sure whatever you do to be happy and smile.

"Thank you for everything!"

Leclerc, who raced with a tribute helmet to Vettel in the season-ending race which was topped with a message of 'Danke Seb', responded on social media to thank the German for "pushing me to improve" across their two years together.

"I learnt so much from you as a person and as a driver in these last two years," wrote Leclerc.

"Thanks for pushing me to improve all the time, it’s been a honor to be your teammate, and I honestly wish you the very best.

"Top driver and a Top Man."

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