Photo: Sam Bloxham/GP3 Series Media Service
Ferrari has confirmed that Charles Leclerc has joined its Driver Academy and that he will also have a relationship with the new Haas Formula 1 team this year.
In addition, Leclerc and long-time Ferrari Driver Academy member Antonio Fuoco will both hold development driver roles at the Ferrari team.
In joining the FDA, Leclerc follows in the footsteps of his late mentor and friend Jules Bianchi. Like Bianchi, Leclerc is managed by Nicolas Todt.
It was confirmed on Monday that the 18-year-old from Monaco will race for ART Grand Prix in GP3 this year, after starring in Formula 3 as a rookie in 2015.
Ferrari said he will be “on the books” at Haas, which has close technical ties with Maranello. The logo of Leclerc’s main sponsor Richard Mille features prominently on the first Haas car.
Also recruited to the FDA ? which is now headed by ex-sporting director Massimo Rivola following the departure of Luca Baldisseri ? is Giuliano Alesi, whose father Jean raced for Ferrari in F1 between 1991 and 1995.
Alesi is making the considerable step up to GP3 – joining Fuoco at the Trident team – after just one year in French Formula 4.
Chinese driver Guan Yu Zhou, who will race in F3 for Motopark this year, remains as the fourth member of the FDA.
Former FDA members Lance Stroll and Raffaele Marciello both cut ties with Ferrari at the end of 2015.