Ocon confident Leclerc will be 2019 title contender

Esteban Ocon is confident that new Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc can challenge for the title in his first season at Scuderia.

Leclerc enjoyed a successful and impressive rookie season in Formula 1, with Sauber, before being signed by Ferrari to replace Kimi Raikkonen.

The Monegasque driver will be alongside Sebastian Vettel, and will be aiming to give him a bit more competition than Raikkonen did.

"I think Charles will fight for the title next year, for sure. At least it won't be a surprise to me," Ocon told RaceFans.net. "I know him pretty well. The first race we raced together was in 2005 in mini-karts when we were seven/eight years old. And we were first and second and I was on the inside, we crashed in the last corner of the last lap so he didn't finish and I finished like sixth or seventh.

"This was the first time we met and all our career we've been fighting like this together. I knew he had a very good talent from day one. He's one of the quickest guys out there. I think he will show that next year, absolutely."

Ocon has been left without a seat for 2019, with Force India replacing the Frenchman with Lance Stroll, but Ocon is adamant that Pierre Gasly signing for Red Bull Racing and Leclerc to Ferrari will demonstrate there is logic in signing those with little experience.

"I think you will see that Pierre and Charles are going to fight for wins and podiums," Ocon said. "Probably the mentality of Formula 1 is going to change with that, seeing young drivers can do the job, too. That's going to only help the younger ones coming in."