Charles Leclerc pays tribute to Jules Bianchi and his late father after securing Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari seat for 2019

Bianchi was Leclerc’s godfather, close friend and predecessor in the Ferrari Driver Academy before his tragic death in 2015, while Leclerc’s father passed away last year

Charles Leclerc paid tribute to the late Jules Bianchi as well as his father after being unveiled as a Ferrari driver for 2019 to prove that “dreams do come true”.

The 20-year-old will replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari next year, with the former world champion moving in the opposite direction to return to Sauber after starting his career there back in 2001.

The double-announcement continues Leclerc’s remarkable rise through the ranks, having won the GP3 and Formula Two championships back-to-back over the last two years before impressing in his first year in the top class with five points-scoring finishes.

His form in the Alfa Romeo Sauber this year convinced the Ferrari hierarchy that the time was right to replace Raikkonen and promote their former Academy driver, who followed in the footsteps of French driver Bianchi by becoming the team’s test and reserve driver before finding a seat further down the grid.

Bianchi tragically died in July 2015 due to injuries he sustained in an accident while driving for Marussia at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, a loss that shocked the sport and saw the first fatality at a race weekend since Ayrton Senna in 1994.

Leclerc revealed in an interview earlier this year that Bianchi was his godfather, having grown up racing at the same karting track in Brignoles that was managed by Bianchi’s father, while Leclerc’s brother Lorenzo is understood to have been his best friend and attended his bedside during his treatment in Japan.

The loss of Bianchi was followed two years later by the death of Leclerc’s father, Herve, in June 2017 following a long illness, which came shortly before the then-teenager drove to victory in Baku as part of his F2-title winning season. Upon announcing his move to Ferrari on Twitter, Leclerc was keen to pay tribute to both of them, as well as his agent Nicolas Todt whom he shared with Bianchi.

Leclerc will join Ferrari in 2019 and paid tribute to his later father as well as Bianchi (Getty)

“Dreams do come true,” Leclerc wrote. “I'll be driving for @scuderiaferrari for the 2019 Formula 1 World Championship. I will be eternally grateful to @scuderiaferrari for the opportunity given. To @nicolastodt for supporting me since 2011. To my family.

“To a person that is not part of this world anymore but to whom I owe everything of what is happening to me, Papa. To Jules, thank you for all the things you [taught] me, we will never forget you, and to all the people that supported me and believed in me.

Ferrari have promoted Leclerc following a series of impressive drives this season (Getty)

“I will work harder than ever to not disappoint you. But first, there is a season to finish with an amazing team that gave me the opportunity to fight and show my potential. Let's go @SauberF1Team.”