'Leclerc has signed 2019 Ferrari deal'

Charles Leclerc has already signed a race deal with Ferrari, complicating the Scuderia's attempts to retain Kimi Raikkonen as Sebastian Vettel's 2019 team-mate, according to a report in Auto Motor und Sport. According to AMuS, Leclerc signed his deal with former Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne, before his passing in July.

New Ferrari CEO Louis C. Camilleri is understood to be keen on re-signing Raikkonen in 2019 in an attempt to limit the upheaval brought on at Maranello after Marchionne died.

Camilleri said at Monza on Friday that a decision was yet to be taken for 2019, although Ferrari's home race has typically played host to announcements about the team's future - making the absence of any notices at this race strange.

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Raikkonen delivered a timely reminder of his talents by pipping Vettel for pole at the Italian Grand Prix, but it could be too late to save his future, despite a desire to continue racing and Vettel's happiness with the Finn as his stable-mate.

According to AMuS, any Ferrari attempt to renege on a deal signed by Leclerc is complicated by the fact that the Monegasque is represented by FIA president and former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt's son, Nicolas.

Leclerc has collected 13 points in his debut F1 season with Sauber, impressing with a string of dominant qualifying performances compared to team-mate Marcus Ericsson.

Tipped as a potential future F1 champion, Leclerc stepped up to the premier class after winning GP3 and Formula 2 in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

He will turn 21 next month, a day before Raikkonen will celebrate his 39th birthday, and signing such a young driver would be a departure from Ferrari traditions in recent years.

If Raikkonen is not retained at Ferrari, he has been linked to former employers McLaren and Sauber.