The irony that he is replacing Ferrari's most recent world champion isn't lost on Charles Leclerc, and meeting the media for the first time since being confirmed as a Scuderia driver, the youngster is fully aware of what is expected of him.

"It was quite crazy, there were a lot of emotions..." he says of Tuesday's big news. "I have just become a Formula One driver and soon I will be with Ferrari.

"It's above my expectations," he continued. "It is very strange because obviously I can see that a lot of people think that I would have a lot of pressure on my shoulders but I really don't. I focus on myself and don't think about what people expect of me in the car. I believe if I do the right job in the car, and if I work the right way, the performances will be there."

At 21, when he lines up on the Melbourne grid next March, he will be the youngest driver to race for Scuderia Ferrari in F1 since Ricardo Rodriguez in 1961, ironically the year in which Phil Hill went on to win the title.

"I believe they will let us race next season," he said, "then at one point usually you see some team orders because one driver is challenging for the championship and the other is not. It's normal.

"Experience is always a plus obviously, but if you are good enough for a Formula One seat, you are good enough from the first year. If next year I don't have the results good enough to stay in Ferrari, then I don't deserve a Ferrari seat. I need to deliver. I am not going there to learn."