Ferrari and Haas junior driver Charles Leclerc is poised to move into GP2 next year despite being linked with a Formula 1 drive for the 2017 season.
Leclerc, 19, joined the Ferrari Driver Academy at the beginning of the season after impressing through 2015 in FIA Formula 3, before being planted at Haas by virtue of the technical partnership between the two teams.
Leclerc has taken part in three F1 practice sessions so far this season with Haas, as well as racing in GP3, where he leads the championship by 29 points ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The Monegasque racer had been linked with a possible move up to F1 for 2017 with Haas should the team opt to change its existing driver line-up of Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez.
However, Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has confirmed that Leclerc is set to move into GP2 for 2017 ahead of his next FP1 appearance in Brazil this Friday.
"Charles has done a good job for the team. He always did his programme and he performed what we asked of him," Steiner said.
"It’s always difficult when a driver is only in for FP1, but he’s very professional and has provided good feedback. We’ve been very happy with his contributions.
"He’s in GP3 at the moment and can win the title in Abu Dhabi. He’s got a season of GP2 coming up and we will see how far he can get.
"If he wins GP2 or is in the top-three in his first year of GP2, he will have a good future in front of him.”
