Leclerc happy to be kept in the dark about F1 2018 plans

Ferrari junior Charles Leclerc says he is happy to be kept in the dark about a possible Formula 1 drive in 2018 so he can focus on wrapping up the Formula 2 drivers' title in the coming weeks.

Leclerc, 19, enjoyed the first of four FP1 appearances with Sauber between now and the end of the season on Friday in Malaysia, and is thought to be set to claim a race seat with the Swiss team in 2018 as part of its enhanced relationship with Ferrari.

The Monegasque driver can wrap up the F2 title in Jerez next weekend, and is not being given any information about his F1 chances by those in charge of his career until he has clinched the crown, but he is happy with this approach.

"Ferrari and Nicolas [Todt, Leclerc's manager] are speaking a lot, but to be honest they don't really want me to be informed for now because they want me to focus on Formula 2, and I'm very happy about that," Leclerc said.

"To be honest I don't want to know much. I have a goal and that is to win the Formula 2 championship this year, and then anything that comes after comes after.

"But I'm sure Ferrari and Nicolas will work as hard as possible for me to have the best place possible in 2018.

"I believe that if I do the job, if I continue to do the job like I did from the beginning of the year in Formula 2, I hope they will find a place for me."