Leclerc on Ferrari move: I'm not going to be Vettel's No. 2

Charles Leclerc insists that his move to Ferrari for the 2019 season does not mean he will automatically be positioned as the number two driver to Sebastian Vettel, and is aware that if he doesn't perform, he could well be dropped by the end of the year.

Ferrari have taken a bold move in acquiring the services of the young Frenchman, who has had an exciting season with Sauber, choosing to bring in the 20-year-old as a replacement for Kimi Raikkonen.

It is widely expected that Leclerc will provide a supporting role for Vettel as he continues to battle with Lewis Hamilton for the Formula championship, in a similar vein to Hamilton's relationship with Valtteri Bottas.

But speaking on the 'Beyond the Grid' podcast, Leclerc insists that he sees himself on an even keel with his new team-mate - at the start of the season, at least.

He said: "In every team you start the year on an equal status, and then at one point, once one driver is fighting for the championship and one is not, then I believe it’s normal for the second driver to help the first one, which I’m ready to do in case I am the second driver and I don’t have my chances to win the championship.

“But apart from that, I don’t think I will go there to be a second driver.”

But he is also under no illusions that if he does not perform, given the competitive nature of the driver's market, his position with the Scuderia will almost certainly be at risk.

He added: “I’m also very honest. If I’m not good enough next year, I should be dropped by Ferrari and this would be completely understandable for me. This is how I see it.

“If I’m good enough, I deserve to stay there. If I’m not, I deserve to be left off and I think that takes a lot of pressure off my shoulders.”

But he believes that he has the mentality to deal with the additional expectation driving for the Italian giants will bring.

He concluded: "I know lots of people say, ‘but the pressure in Ferrari is on another level’, but my mentality allows me to take off all the pressure.

“I don’t really take into consideration what people are expecting from me. The only thing I do is focus on myself and try to give the best possible performance on track."

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