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 Romeo Sauber.

Ferrari junior Leclerc will step up to F1 next year after dominating the Formula 2 championship through 2017, with his prom🎶otion being confirmed by Sauber at t💖he 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 number as Kimi Raikkonen and P🐟ierre Gasly were already using his desired picks.

"It’s quite simple to be h𒉰onest," Leclerc explained. "I w🎃anted number 7 first, but Kimi had it.

"Then I chose 10, but Pierre came to F1 🎃and chose numbᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚer 10, so then I chose number 16.

"It’s just my🤡 date of birth and I cou🅰ld not find anything better. And 1 + 6 = 7, which is my favourite number."

Lecl🦹erc also revealed that he found out about the Sauber drive on the final day of the post-season test in Abu Dha🍸bi, despite having been long-rumoured to be in line for a seat.

"It was the last day of the test in Abu Dhabi. Fred [Vass🉐eur] called me and told me I would be the race driver for Al🦂fa Romeo Sauber for 2018.

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

"But being in Formula ꧙1 does not mean you are going to stay fꦫor long. So I need to work already to make the best season possible next year and hopefully have a successful career in F1.

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