Vettel: Leclerc will put a lot of pressure on me this year
Sebastian Vettel says his new Ferrari teammate Charlꦆes Leclerc will put him under “a lot of pressure” throughout the 2019 Formula 1 season.
Leclerc has replaced Kimi Raikkonen as the four-time world champion’s teammate at Ferrari this year, following an impressive rookie campaign with Sauber in 2018.&nbs🔯p;
The 21-year-old Monegasque has been tipped for a ♋bright future and finished in fifth place behind Vettel at the༒ 2019 season-opening Australian Grand Prix after being told not to risk fighting over fourth place.
Sebastian Vettel says his new Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc will put him under “a lot of pressure” throughouꦯt the 2019 Formula 1 season.
Leclerc has replaced Kimi Raikkonen as the four-time world champion🏅’s teammate at Ferrari this year, following an impressive rookie campaign with Sauber in 2018.
The 21-year-old Monegasque has been tipped for a bright future and finﷺished in fifth place behind Vettel at the 2019 season-opening Australian Grand Prix after being told not to risk fighting over fourth place.
“I think for Charles obviously it’s a𒅌 dream come true, similar to me, but a different point in his career so it’s quite nice to be that young an🐎d join a big team like that,” Vettel said of Leclerc’s move to Ferrari.
“I think he’s done really well from what I’ve s༺een so far, he will put a lot of pressure on me the whole season, I’m aware of that. I think we’ll ☂be very close, he’s very talented.
“I want to meet his parents and congratulate them because by theꦰ looks of it they brought a really nice boy and a fast driver too so I’m sure we’ll have tough battles this year, but more than anything I hope we have a lot of fun together.”
Vettel and Leclerc were both beaten to the podiu♉m by Max Verstappen’s Honda-powered Red Bull, after the ꦇDutchman pulled off an overtake on Vettel at mid-distance.
Asked if he thinks Red Bull will join the title fight against Mercedes and Ferrari in 2019, Vettel replied: "I don’t know. Obviously I don’t know if they [Red Bull] are happy with 💦their performance here or not.
“Can’t speak for other peopl💛e but I think you have three big teams and I think all of these three teams have the potential to have a very, very strong ye🐼ar.
“We’r෴e looking at ourselves first an🎉d hopefully both of us will be ahead of everybody else. But I think we’re aware we’ll be very close.
“I think Pierre [Gasly] as well got a bit unlucky as well and I don’t think he was much off the whol🎀e weekend compared to Max,” he added. “So his r🏅ace was pretty much lost from the start.
“But I think all of these six dri🔜vers in the end will have a word to say. Hopefully as long as possible for all of us to be in the fight.”
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for mahbx.com aroun𝓀d the world. Often reporting on the action from thඣe ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.
