Leclerc: First day as Ferrari driver "very special"

Charles Leclerc says his day testing for Ferrari at Abu Dhabi was "very special". The Monegasque driver will complete the Ferrari 2019 line-up alongside four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Leclerc finished the second day of testing top of the timing sheets with a 1:36.450s and completed 135 laps in the SF71H.

Speaking after his time in the car, Leclerc admitted that being a Ferrari driver was a day he had been waiting for for a long time.

“It’s very special for sure, getting into the car with the knowledge that this will be my team next year,” he said.

“It’s a day I’ve been waiting for, for a long time and I never thought it would come, but today this was the reality and I’m very happy.

“I’m also very happy with the work we have done today, so it was very emotional."

He added that the day was useful to get to know his new team better before the 2019 season gets underway in Melbourne.

“(The main aim was) to get to know the team, even if I already knew most of them before.

“But (today) I was working with them for the first time since it was announced I would be racing with Ferrari from next year.

“It was important because every team has its own specific way of operating and today allowed me to see and understand how this team does things.”