Leclerc needs more time in F1 - Vasseur

China - Frederic Vasseur says Charles Leclerc will take some time to get up to speed in Formula 1.

In Bahrain, it was Marcus Ericsson who scored Sauber's breakthrough points of 2018, despite the fact that rookie Leclerc was earlier touted as the team's new superstar.

Boss Vasseur said in China: "I do not take such a categorical position. 'Yesterday Marcus was nowhere, now he's a superstar instead of Charles'. That's all wrong." 

"We talked a lot during the off-season and Charles knew it would be difficult because F1 is different from Formula Two." 

Vasseur happy with LeClerc's progress

So while reigning F2 champion Leclerc will get time to shine, Vasseur said he is happy with Swede Ericsson.

Vasseur said: "We were criticised when we decided to keep working with Marcus, but he progressed." 

"He trained hard in the offseason, dropping many kilograms. But the point was not his weight, but the fact that he demonstrated his determination."