Ferrari Academy driver Charles Leclerc says the late Jules Bianchi was on his mind when he took to the track for his first test with Ferrari on Tuesday.
After impressing on his F1 debut with Haas during first practice for the British Grand Prix, Leclerc secured a test day with Ferrari on Tuesday. After finishing his track time at Silverstone, Leclerc opened up about his relationship with his mentor Bianchi, who died last year from injuries sustained at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
"I knew him from when I was really, really young," he said. "He was my godfather and he helped me with most of things in racing.
"Obviously now it's hard without him because he always helped me, and I miss his help. He advised me really well in the past, and all his comments he gave me in the past I keep them in mind and try not to make the errors he told me not to do."
Bianchi was also a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy up until the time of his death and Leclerc is sure he would have become a Ferrari race driver if he was still alive.
"Yeah. Jules was one of the talents who would have gone there if the things that happened hadn't have happened," he said. "But I'm definitely confident the driver academy will have someone who will make it into the top team."