Ferrari junior Leclerc set to be placed in GP2 for 2017 - MotorSportsTalk

Ferrari junior driver Charles Leclerc is set to be placed in GP2 for the 2017 season, despite suggestions that he could be in line for a Formula 1 seat with Haas.

Leclerc, 19, joined the Ferrari Driver Academy at the beginning of 2016 after an impressive season in the FIA Formula 3 championship through 2015.

The Monegasque youngster was placed at Haas in a development role for 2016 by virtue of its technical partnership with Ferrari, and has taken part in three F1 practice sessions so far this year (Great Britain, Hungary, Germany). Another will come this weekend in Brazil.

.@Charles_Leclerc joins @EstebanGtz around @InterlagosTrack for the #TrackWalk ahead of his #FP1 session. #HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/PqwHZX9rVx

— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) November 10, 2016

Leclerc has also been racing in GP3 through 2016, and enters the final round of the year in Abu Dhabi with a 29-point lead at the top of the drivers’ standings.

Leclerc was linked with a possible move up to F1 for 2017 with Haas, but his inexperience was cited as a possible drawback.

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has now confirmed that Leclerc is poised to move up to GP2 for 2017.

“Charles has done a good job for the team. He always did his program 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.”

Haas is poised to announce the signing of Kevin Magnussen from Renault in the coming days, with the Dane set to partner Romain Grosjean for 2017.

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With three multiple winners now vying for the championship, the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series heads to Round 11 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.

Chase Sexton earned his second victory of the season in Detroit when Aaron Plessinger fell on the final lap. Though he was penalized seven points for disobeying a flag, Sexton is third in the championship race. The Honda rider trails leader Cooper Webb (two victories) by 17 points, and defending series champion Eli Tomac (five wins) is three points behind Webb in second with seven races remaining.

Tomac won last year in Seattle on the way to his second season title.

Honda riders have a Supercross-leading 20 victories in the Seattle event but none at Lumen Field since Justin Barcia in 2013. Tomac and Barcia are the only past 450 Seattke winners entered in Saturday’s event.

Here are the pertinent details for watching Round 11 of the 2023 Supercross season in Seattle:

(All times are ET)

BROADCAST/STREAMING SCHEDULE: TV coverage of Round 11 will begin Saturday at 10 p.m. ET streaming on Peacock with a re-air Monday at 1 a.m. ET on CNBC. The Race Day Live show (including qualifying) will begin on Peacock at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

NBC Sports will have exclusive live coverage of races, qualifiers and heats for the record 31 events in SuperMotocross. The main events will be presented on Peacock, NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and NBC Sports digital platforms.

Peacock will become the home of the SuperMotocross World Championship series in 2023 with live coverage of all races, qualifying, and heats from January to October. There will be 23 races livestreamed exclusively on Peacock, including a SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff event. The platform also will provide on-demand replays of every race. Click here for the full schedule.

POINTS STANDINGS: 450 division l 250 division

ENTRY LISTS: 450 division l 250 division

EVENT SCHEDULE (all times ET):

Here are the start times for Saturday’s Supercross Round 11 in Seattle, according to the Monster Energy Supercross schedule from the AMA:

4:50 p.m.: 250SX Group B Qualifying 1
5:05 p.m.: 250SX Group A Qualifying 1
5:20 p.m.: 450SX Group A Qualifying 1
5:35 p.m.: 450SX Group B Qualifying 1
6:25 p.m.: 250SX Group B Qualifying 2
6:40 p.m.: 250SX Group A Qualifying 2
7:55 p.m.: 450SX Group A Qualifying 2
8:10 p.m.: 450SX Group B Qualifying 2
10:06 p.m.: 250SX Heat 1
10:20 p.m.: 250SX Heat 2
10:34 p.m.: 450SX Heat 1
10:48 p.m.: 450SX Heat 2
11:22 p.m.: 250SX Last Chance Qualifier
11:34 p.m.: 450SX Last Chance Qualifier
11:54 p.m.: 250SX Main Event
12:28 a.m.: 450SX Main Event