F1 2019: 5 Reasons why Leclerc v Vettel will be close

Vettel and Leclerc didn't battle much on-track in 2018, but that'll all change this year.
Vettel and Leclerc didn't battle much on-track in 2018, but that'll all change this year.

#2 Leclerc is Still Very Young

Leclerc is still new to Formula 1, but has shown excellent speed and maturity so far.
Leclerc is still new to Formula 1, but has shown excellent speed and maturity so far.

It's hard to believe that Leclerc earned his promotion to Ferrari after just one full season of Grand Prix racing, but that's exactly the case. The Monegasque driver has competed in 21 F1 races, and is only 21 years old, but has shown excellent maturity so far.

He appears to be comfortable with both the media and his car, and quietly plies his trade, just like a certain Vettel did in his first years in the sport. In fact, Leclerc is one of the youngest men in a full-time driver's role in 2019, despite several rookies joining. Only Lando Norris and George Russell are younger on the grid.

Why am I pointing out Leclerc's age so much? Because it's important to how he's going to approach this year. Vettel is 31, hardly old, but he's been in the sport for over a decade now, and if Leclerc outperforms him, he could conceivably be given the boot at Ferrari.

The reverse isn't true for Charles, he's not expected to beat Vettel, nor win the driver's championship, so as stated previously, he doesn't have the same load on his shoulders.

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