Ericsson calls Leclerc his toughest-to-beat teammate ever

Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson has called his rookie teammate Charles Leclerc his toughest-ever teammate in F1, as the Monegasque has taken the sport by sport since making his debut in Australia this season.

Leclerc has had an incredible five points finishes after twelve races and he's been in Q3 on three occasions. In a Sauber, that takes some doing.

That's why Leclerc has already been linked to a Ferrari seat next season, with rumours of Kimi Raikkonen retiring getting louder.

Ericsson did beat Leclerc in the first three qualifying sessions as the 20-year-old was still finding his feet, but since that, it's been 9-0 for the Monegasque.

“It started off very well. The first three weekends I was ahead of him, which was good and then he’s been doing very good,” Ericsson said in an interview with Crash.net.

Then, Ericsson was asked if Leclerc is indeed the hardest-to-beat teammate he's ever had in F1, and his reply was short and sweet: "Yes."

However, this doesn't mean that the two don't get along well.