Leclerc gets Friday practice call-up with Sauber

Charles Leclerc will drive for Sauber during Friday practice in four of the six remaining race weekends on the 2017 F1 schedule.

The Ferrari junior driver will get seat time in the C36 at Sepang, COTA, Mexico City and Interlagos. Of the remaining races, Japan clashes with the Formula 2 round at Jerez, where he could secure the series title, while F2 is on the support bill at Abu Dhabi.

Leclerc and fellow Ferrari-contracted driver Antonio Giovinazzi have been heavily linked to one or both of Sauber's race seats for 2018 following the Swiss team's decision to cancel plans to switch to Honda power in favor of extending its deal with Maranello.

Leclerc has made four previous Friday appearances, all with Haas in 2016, while Giovinazzi raced for Sauber as a stand-in for Pascal Wehrlein in March, and has also made several Friday practice appearances for Haas this year.