Leclerc signing will boost Ferrari next season - Brawn

The arrival of Charles Leclerc to Ferrari for 2019 will give Scuderia a boost going into next season, according to F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn.

Leclerc will be promoted to Ferrari next season following an impressive rookie campaign with Sauber last season to partner Sebastian Vettel.

The Monegasque driver put in numerous solid displays for Sauber, scoring 39 of their 48 points in 2018 - helping the team make an improved eighth-placed finish.

Leclerc made his first official appearance for Ferrari on Wednesday in the post-season testing session in Abu Dhabi, where he finished top.

"Charles Leclerc has been truly impressive in terms of speed and talent but now he has to make a significant step up," Brawn told Crash.net. "I'm sure his arrival at Ferrari will be a boost for the team and an added incentive for Vettel next year."

Ferrari started the season in excellent fashion, looking the stronger out of them and Mercedes and looking like they were really going to threaten the Silver Arrows' dominance this season.

They had the quicker car, Vettel was on brilliant form - but a number of strategy and individual mistakes from Vettel essentially gifted Mercedes their fourth constructors' championship in succession.