Incoming Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is under no illusions that he must make an instant impact after signing a deal this week.

On Tuesday, Ferrari announced the youngster would be moving from Sauber for the 2019 season where he will replace Kimi Raikkonen, who is going in the opposite direction.

“I have had a very good season this year… and next year I have to perform in a big team,” Leclerc said ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.

“I still have to learn a lot of things but I will be a lot more ready than this year.”

He added: “Whether I’m ready or not, I can’t tell. But I think that if you see Lewis, he arrived the first year and straight away was there.

“And if next year I don’t have the results good enough to stay in Ferrari… then I don’t deserve a Ferrari seat. This is how I see things,” he said.

“I think I have a mentality which really takes off all the pressure. I really focus on myself and don’t really think about what people expect from me in the car.”