Marcus Ericsson has backed former Sauber teammate Charles Leclerc to “kick some ass” during his first Formula 1 seaso🎃n with Ferrari.

Ferrari has promoted its highly-rat𒆙ed protege to partner four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel for the upcoming campaign as it bids to bounce back from successive title defeats to rivals Mercedes.

Leclerc tur💛nedꦛ in an impressive rookie campaign with Sauber and his 2018 teammate and outgoing F1 driver Ericsson believes the 21-year-old Monegasque will continue to shine at the Scuderia.

“I would be ve💯ry interested to follow Charles at Ferrari,” Ericsson said.

“I think he 🍌can do really well, already next year.

“And of course if he does really well there it would reflect good on me, so let’s hope 🧸he kicks some ass 🐲over there!”

When asked if he reckons Leclerc will surprise Vettel, Ericsson re⛄plied: “I think so.

“It will be interesting to follow but I’m pretty sure he wi🥂ll do really we⛎ll.”

Leclerc’s form has been highlighted by reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton, who admitted he will need to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:raise his game in 2019, while long-time rival Esteban Ocon has tipped Leclerc to pose a threat to Mercedes’ recent dominaꦅnce of the spo♌rt.

“I think Charles will fig𒁏ht for the title next year for sure,” Ocon said. “At least it wo꧑n’t be a surprise to me.

“I know he has a very good talent from day one. He’s one of the quickest guys out there, and I think he🌄 will show that next year, definitely.”

Leclerc’s🐼 move marks the first change Ferrari has made to its driver line-u🐲p since Vettel joined the team in 2015, with Kimi Raikkonen heading back to the Sauber squad that launched his F1 career.

F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn has warned his former team that Leclerc will be 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:“less accommodating as Kimi” for Ve🐎ttel and predicts a tricker driver dy💖namic than Ferrari has been used to in recent years.