Four P1 outings to prove the foundation for 2018 race seat?
Thursday 21 September 2017 16:22, UK
Ferrari protege Charles Leclerc, the runaway F2 championship leader, will drive for Sauber in four of F1 2017's six remaining Friday Practice sessions.
In what will be viewed as a precursor to the 19-year-old landing a race seat at the Ferrari-powered Swiss team for 2017, Leclerc will make his Practice One debut for the team next Friday at the Malaysia GP ahead of further outings in the USA, Mexico and Brazil.
Leclerc has never driven for Sauber but did test Ferrari's 2017 challenger at the Budapest test in August, when he set the pace on Day One.
F1 Hungary Test: Charles Leclerc fastest on 2017 Ferrari debut
He drove for Haas, another Ferrari-engined team, in four P1 sessions last season.
The teenager, a member of Ferrari's academy, could clinch the F2 title at the series' next event, a standalone round at Jerez, on October 7-8.
Ferrari are expected to place at least one of their junior drivers at Sauber next season.
After the backmarker team scrapped a proposed Honda engine deal to renew their long-time relationship with the Italian marque for 2018, Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne spoke about creating a 'junior team' to blood their young drivers.
Leclerc and Antonio Giovinazzi are in contention for at least one of Sauber's seats, with Mercedes-supported Pascal Wehrlein expected to make way. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber's other race driver, will miss P1 in Sepang while Sauber run Leclerc.
