'Too early' for Leclerc at Ferrari, warns Villeneuve

Former Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve says a promotion to Ferrari in 2019 would come too soon for Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque - a member of Ferrari's junior program - has reportedly agreed a €5million two-year deal to replace Kimi Raikkonen at the Scuderia next season.

Formula 2 champion Leclerc has made a fine start to life in F1, scoring points in five of the last six races after a ninth-place finish at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Remarkably, Leclerc now has more career points than Sauber team-mate Marcus Ericsson, despite having started 76 fewer grands prix.

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Raikkonen is third in the drivers' championship, having finished second in Austria, and Raikkonen believes Ferrari ought to bear in mind the Finn's experience as they attempt to defeat Mercedes in the development race through the campaign.

"I think it's too early for him," Villeneuve told Auto Bild of Leclerc.

"On the one hand Ferrari risks burning him, if he is beaten by Vettel. And on the other hand they need an experienced second driver, and Kimi Raikkonen is quite stable now.

"If Sebastian has to develop the car alone next year, that's a disadvantage.

"I would give Leclerc another year to develop and learn. He's in Ferrari's junior team anyway with a contract.

"So I don't see any reason to rush him into the A team. Because really we don't know how good he really is. He's only had Ericsson as a yardstick."