Arrivabene predicts Leclerc won't be a threat to Vettel in 2019

Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene believes that Charles Leclerc will not pose a threat to Sebastian Vettel due to his inexperience compared to the German. Leclerc will join Ferrari in 2019, replacing the experienced Kimi Raikkonen at the Scuderia.

Despite impressing many in his debut season in Formula One, Arrivabene isn't expecting a championship challenge from his new driver, citing Leclerc's inexperience in comparison to his future teammate as a huge factor that will stop him being a threat to Vettel.

"I've always said that Charles is a very talented driver, that's why we brought him to Ferrari, we would have to go back to the Rodriguez brothers' time to find pilots - as young as Leclerc," Arrivabene explained during the team personnel press conference on Friday.

"Enzo Ferrari always said that the first rival of a driver is his teammate, as long as they fight for the first and second positions, that they are rivals, it is fine, if they are rivals that clash between them, it is not right".

"But with all the honesty and seriousness, I think Leclerc needs to gain experience in order to do the job, he needs to win races, but the main objective is to gain experience and always do the best he can." It's too early to think that they will fight in the future I hope so, but I think it's a bit early."

Ironically enough, Leclerc has already been a thorn in Vettel's side, it was due to the gravel brought onto the track by the Sauber driver that led to the red flag in which Vettel was caught speeding during, and handed a subsequent grid penalty for.