F1: 5 things you need to know about Ferrari’s 2019 driver Charles Leclerc

Ferrari dropped a bombshell, albeit an expected one, today after they announced that their driver Kimi Raikkonen had been released by the team for the 2019 season. The announcement came as a shock to fans of the Iceman who would have felt confident following an impressive outing in Monza where Kimi somehow managed to break the all-time record for the fastest lap in an F1 car.

But the writing was on the wall after it became apparent that Raikkonen's age may have been catching up to him, and there was no way the Italian giants were going to lose out on an opportunity to win the title by letting go of Sebastian Vettel. So, as things stand, Kimi is out of Ferrari, but has found asylum in Sauber, where he makes a glorious return after 17 years.

So who have Ferrari replaced their former World Champion with in the coveted seat? None other than 20-year-old Charles Leclerc. The youngster is about to live his dream next season and couldn't be more excited to start this new journey, having proven himself in a very short time at Sauber this season. Considering the little we know about Leclerc, it is fair to say that a crash course on the driver would be more than welcome.

Here are 5 things you should know about Ferrari's latest acquisition:

#5 Leclerc was a Ferrari junior driver

It is imperative to note that Ferrari haven't just shot in the dark with this particular signing, but have been keeping a close eye on the progress of their young prodigy for quite a while. After impressing on the karting circuit alongside able drivers such as Max Verstappen, Leclerc popped up on the Ferrari radar and soon became a member of the famed Ferrari driver academy - a place where young drivers can be trained and groomed into the stars they are today.

Other drivers making it big from the academy today include the likes of Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez.

#4 Youngest Ferrari driver since 1961

Ferrari gave their traditional policy of sticking with experience over youth a miss by signing Leclerc to a seat this time, and in doing so have made the 20-year-old the youngest driver to sit in a Scuderia since Ricardo Rodriguez back in 1961.

The Mexican driver was only 19 when he drove his first race for the Prancing Horse and will keep his record of being the youngest intact for now, even though it is quite remarkable that at his young age, Leclerc is receiving an opportunity of a lifetime. Here's hoping he makes an indelible mark.

#3 He was best friends with Jules Bianchi

The French connection may well have been responsible for bringing these two talented drivers together, but despite their age difference, Leclerc was very close childhood friends with the late Jules Bianchi, often crediting him as the reason he got into racing.

Being from Monaco, Leclerc had friends from nearby Nice, where Bianchi came from. After being signed up by the Ferrari academy himself, Bianchi tragically died following an accident in his Marussia car back in 2015. Leclerc dedicated his own performance at Monaco to his idol and his family earlier this year.

#2 He won back-to-back F2 and GP3 titles

It's easy to see why Ferrari were so interested in Charles Leclerc when you consider the fact that he managed to win the Formula Two and GP3 Championships in two consecutive seasons.

Making a name for himself in the karting series, Leclerc came to GP3 with a reputation and he more than held his own from the get-go, proving just why Ferrari had him pegged for a spot in their famed academy. After winning the 2016 crown, the Monegasque went one better the following year in Formula 2 and won it in 2017.

It was only a matter of time before F1 came calling, and Sauber was the ultimate destination for the youngster in 2018.

#1 He had a stunning first season at Sauber

Finally, and most importantly, all his good work in GP3 and F2 would have been wasted if he hadn't managed to pull off the drives he did while at Sauber this season.

It isn't an exaggeration to say that Leclerc was simply stunning at times this campaign, proving his driving ability during the opening stages of the season in particular and coming up with five top-ten finishes in a fairly unfancied car. Leclerc managed to get the best out of his Sauber even during qualifying, by inching the team closer to a strong finish by bagging three Q3 appearances from out of nowhere.

Looking at this, it is fair to say that in a superior car like the Ferrari, Leclerc will be twice or even thrice as dangerous.