Fukuzumi didn't spend a month+ testing on European tracks like Verstappen though. His Japanese racing experience will not necessarily translate.
Leclerc, talented as he may be, paid and pays for his own seat just like 99% of the drivers in these categories. The Ferrari association is about getting preference for an F1 seat, not money. Plenty of these deals involve the driver paying the F1 team (Latifi, Calderon, Mazepin, Stroll, Celis and others).
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