Can Leclerc handle the pressure at Ferrari?

Sauber boss Fred Vasseur has warned against piling expectations on Charles Leclerc, suggesting an anticipated move to Ferrari will test the young star's mental toughness like never before. Leclerc has been widely tipped to join Ferrari on a two-year deal from next season.

The 20-year-old had been expected to partner Sebastian Vettel in 2019, although reports have suggested that Kimi Raikkonen could be retained on another one-year deal after the passing of Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne prompted a change of personnel at board level.

Formula 2 champion Leclerc appears a cert for the Scuderia seat in the future, however, having vastly outperformed experienced team-mate Marcus Ericsson this year.

Vasseur is wary of the Monegasque receiving too much, too soon, however.

"Moving from Sauber to Ferrari is a big step," the Frenchman told La Derniere Heure.

"We cannot predict what will happen, especially when it comes to drivers getting some money.

"In the last 20 years, there have been plenty of drivers who did very good first seasons in F1.

"I will not give names, but as soon as they touched their first cheque, they had trouble.

"They lost their roots because they discovered new things in life and lost a little bit of what they were doing.

"So we cannot anticipate. That's why Ferrari is a big leap for Charles.

"And it's why Ferrari has always hesitated to take very young drivers. They know very well the pressure that is in their system.

"But I'm not too worried about Charles."