Arthur Leclerc joins Sauber Junior Team in German F4
Arthur Leclerc, the younger brother of Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles, has been added to the Sauber Junior Team roster and will contest the 2019 German Formula 4 Championship.
The 18-year-old Monegasque graduates to the Sauber Junior Team after claiming two wins on his way to finishing fifth in the driver standings during his first season of car racing in French F4 last year. As part of his development role with Venturi, Leclerc also tested Formula E machinery earlier this year.
Arthur Leclerc, the younger brother of Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles, has been added to the Sauber Junior Team roster and will contest the 2019 German Formula 4 Championship.
The 18-year-old Monegasque graduates to the Sauber Junior Team after claiming two wins on his way to finishing fifth in the driver standings during his first season of car racing in French F4 last year. As part of his development role with Venturi, Leclerc also tested Formula E machinery earlier this year.
Leclerc joins South East Asia F4 champion Alessandro Ghiretti, Czech Republic karter Roman Stanek and French F4 junior champion Theo Pourchaire at the US Racing-CHRS squad.
“I’m super excited to be part of the Sauber Junior Team,” Leclerc said.
“It’s a serious programme that is affiliated to an F1 team and my brother was part of Sauber as well during 2018. This is an opportunity that means a lot to me.
“My car will be completely different and much faster than the F4 car I drove in France, but my target is to win and move on to the next racing category.
“It’s been great to work with the guys at US Racing and Charouz. It’s a proper team and I already feel really confident with them and the car.”
Sauber Motorsport, which runs the rebranded Alfa Romeo Racing entry that Ferrari’s Leclerc made his F1 debut with in 2018, has linked up with Charouz Racing System - which has teams in Formula 2, Formula 3 and regional F4 - to provide young talent with a clear path up the racing ladder.
“It is a pleasure to see the Sauber Junior Team’s driver line-up for the 2019 FIA Formula 4 Championship be completed by Arthur Leclerc joining the team,” added Sauber Motorsport CEO and Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur.
“Arthur has demonstrated his dedication and skills over the course of the past year while competing in the French F4 Championship and will now take his next step by competing on an international level.
“The Sauber Junior Team will set out to challenge teams in F2, F3 and F4 with a strong selection of drivers this season. We look forward to following their progress closely.”
The opening round of the 2019 ADAC F4 championship takes place at Oschersleben on April 26-28.
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