Vettel thinks it's "key" to work well with Leclerc in 2019

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel believes it is "key" to have a strong relationship with new team-mate Charles Leclerc for the 2019 F1 season.

Kimi Raikkonen is switching teams with Leclerc, with the latter taking his place at Scuderia and the former switching to old team, Sauber.

This means Vettel will have a new team-mate at Ferrari since making the switch from Red Bull Racing back in 2015.

Leclerc has only had one season in Formula One, only racing in 19 Grands Prix and Vettel believes it would be a mistake for the pair to develop a rivalry next season.

"It's going to be different, for sure, because Charles is not Kimi and Kimi is not Charles," the German told Autosport. "He (Leclerc) is young, so he will have a lot on his head and a lot of things in his mind. So I think for the team, we need to work together on track.

"I am sure he wants to beat me, (and) I want to beat him, the rules are clear. It was the same with Kimi. But I think the key is that we work together and, as I said, he will have a lot of things going on in his head.

"I am his team-mate, so I am also here to help. I am the last one that is trying to hide or play any games or anything like that. That is why I think I get along very well with Kimi, because in this regard we are very similar. So, we will see."