In the run-up to the start of pre-season testing Motorsport Week brings you left-field reflections and stories of teams, drivers and reserves that will be part of the Formula 1 paddock in 2019.
As with many young drivers Charles Leclerc and Alexander Albon have already crossed paths before Formula 1 – indeed, it will be the fifth different category in which they have raced together.
Leclerc and Albon were on single-seater grids together in Formula Renault 2.0, Formula 3, GP3 and Formula 2, and will be reunited through their Formula 1 roles at Ferrari and Toro Rosso respectively – though barring an improbable dip and rise in those team fortunes they will not be direct opponents.
Back in GP3 rookies Leclerc and Albon formed half of ART’s four-strong line-up, with McLaren protégé Nyck de Vries and Honda young gun Nirei Fukuzumi completing the roster.
Leclerc and Albon quickly emerged as title favourites and while the Monegasque youngster held the advantage, Albon remained in contention throughout.
An accomplished weekend in Belgium for Leclerc, as Albon hit trouble, threatened to open a chasm between the pair but Albon fought back in Italy, and added to his win tally during a tense encounter in Malaysia.
Leclerc nevertheless still held a sizeable 29-point advantage heading to Abu Dhabi, meaning Albon required a miracle – one which never came during a dramatic finale.
Albon added the pressure by taking pole, with Leclerc fifth on the grid, but sustained terminal suspension damage when he clashed with Jack Aitken while battling for the lead. It ended his slim prospects and meant the title was guaranteed for Leclerc.
Leclerc, though, did not reach the finish, as he collided at high-speed with Santino Ferrucci, meaning he celebrated his crown while awaiting a lift back to the paddock in the Turn 11 run-off.
Albon’s weekend ended in even worse fashion the following lunchtime when he was pitched into a heavy impact with the barriers along the back straight after some fierce first-lap jostling.
Leclerc finished the season on 202 points with three wins and four poles, while Albon amassed 177 points, triumphing four times and setting the best qualifying lap thrice.
The pair rarely fought on-merit in Formula 2 but 12 months later in Abu Dhabi they contested the Sprint Race in thrilling fashion, with Leclerc squeezing past Albon on the last of 22 laps. It was a fitting way for Leclerc to cap his junior single-seater career and in 2019 the regular rivals will be reunited, this time at the top of the pyramid.
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