Charles Leclerc has revealed the reasons behind his decision to choose #16 as his permanent number in Formula 1 ahead of his debut in 2018 with Alfa Ro🧸meo Sauber.

Ferrari ju𝓰nior Leclerc will step up to F1 next year after dominating the Formula 2 championship through 2017, with his promotion being confirmed by Sauber at the start of this month.

Leclerc selected #16 as his permanent number 🌞to use in F1 throughout his career, but revealed that it was in fact his third choice for a 𝓰number as Kimi Raikkonen and Pierre Gasly were already using his desired picks.

"It’s quite s🐼imple to be honest," Leclerc explained. "I wanted number 7 firs🙈t, but Kimi had it.

"Then I chose 10, but ♊Pierre came to F1 and chose number 10, so then꧅ I chose number 16.

"It’s just my date of birth and I could not find🍷 anything better. And 1 + 6 = 7, wh✨ich is my favourite number."

Leclerc also revealed that he found out about the Sauber drive on the final day of the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, despite🤪 having been long-rumoured to be in line for🎃 a seat.

"It was the last day of the test in Abu Dhabi. Fred [Vasseur] called me and told me I would be the ra🌜ce driver for Alfa Romeo Sauber for 2018.

"As for any driver signing their first contract, it felt absolutel𒁃y amazing. You feel like you have achieved something you always wanted. I always wanted to be a Formula 1 driver since I started karting really.

"But being in Formula 1 does not mean you are go꧟ing to stay for long. So I need to work already to make the best season possible next year and hop🌳efully have a successful career in F1.

"It will need a lot of work from my side."