Breaking news
Formula 1
Leclerc expects "emotional" Ferrari F1 test in Abu Dhabi
Charles Leclerc will make his debut as an official Ferrari Formula 1 driver in next week’s Abu Dhabi test and believes it will be a “special” and “emotional” experience.
Scott Mitchell
Published: Nov 24, 2018, 9:13 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Leclerc has tested on numerous occasions for Ferrari before, including a tyre test at Paul Ricard in September, but this will be his first run in an official group test with the Scuderia since being confirmed as Kimi Raikkonen’s replacement.
“It’s going to be pretty special to go for the first time as a race driver in an official test in a Ferrari,” said Leclerc. “It will be quite emotional.
“It’s two different teams and I always struggle to compare two cars because they have different balances and are driven differently. I’m definitely looking forward to trying it.”
Leclerc will be swapping places at the test with outgoing Ferrari driver Raikkonen, who will drive for Sauber – as confirmed earlier in the Abu Dhabi weekend.
More Leclerc insight:
- Ferrari must make sure it's "ready" to handle Leclerc
- The plane journey that convinced Ferrari on Leclerc
- Why it could still go wrong for Leclerc and Gasly
Several drivers will be getting experience with their new 2019 teams next week.
Pierre Gasly will step up from the Toro Rosso team to test with Red Bull. Current Renault driver Carlos Sainz Jr and Formula 2 graduate Lando Norris have been confirmed at McLaren, likewise F1 race returnee Robert Kubica and F2 champion George Russell at Williams.
Daniil Kvyat will make his Toro Rosso comeback and is thought to be partnered by Sean Gelael, not expected 2019 STR driver Alexander Albon. Another F2 driver, Artem Markelov, will test again for Renault, alongside Nico Hulkenberg – Daniel Ricciardo wanted to drive for his 2019 team but his current employer Red Bull has rejected that move.
Lance Stroll is expected to drive for Racing Point Force India, which he will join from Williams, but that has not been confirmed.
Well-known faces in new places
The drivers appearing for their new 2019 teams in next week’s test
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc
Red Bull: Pierre Gasly
Williams: Robert Kubica, George Russell
McLaren: Carlos Sainz Jr, Lando Norris
Sauber: Kimi Raikkonen, Antonio Giovinazzi
Lando Norris, McLaren, in cockpit
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Verstappen wants answers after tyre temperature confusion
Next article Bahrain NASCAR test is “just pure fun”, says Alonso
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Kimi Raikkonen
David Coulthard explains why Robin Raikkonen's rise resembles Max Verstappen's
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
David Coulthard explains why Robin Raikkonen's rise resembles Max Verstappen's
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Red Bull signs Kimi Raikkonen’s son as junior driver
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
Red Bull signs Kimi Raikkonen’s son as junior driver
More from
Ferrari
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
WEC
WEC
Barcelona
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
Fred Vasseur "not sure" if Red Bull is currently F1's best team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Fred Vasseur "not sure" if Red Bull is currently F1's best team
Latest news
Max Verstappen on GTWC Europe debut: “We’re here to win”
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 4 h
Max Verstappen on GTWC Europe debut: “We’re here to win”
How to watch NASCAR at Phoenix II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
5 h
How to watch NASCAR at Phoenix II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
Ryan Ellis signs multi-year NASCAR O'Reilly deal with Alpha Prime Racing
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
5 h
Ryan Ellis signs multi-year NASCAR O'Reilly deal with Alpha Prime Racing
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
11 h
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe