Sauber finally confirms that Marcus Ericsson is staying in 2017
Sauber has finally confirmed that Marcus Ericsson will stay on for 2017 after the Swede was unable to land an alternative seat elsewhere.
Although his sponsors are also the new owners of Sauber, he had the possibility to move elsewhere if it was a step up.
Felipe Nasr remains favorite for the other seat, assuming his sponsorship comes through. However, an unlikely return for Esteban Gutierrez is not out of the question. The team would only say that the second driver “will be announced in due course.” Ericsson believes that the team will make progress next year.
“I have spent two years with Sauber now, and I really feel at home,” he said. “A big thanks to everyone within the team for trusting in me again. From a personal point of view, I have developed a lot as a driver during my time at Sauber. We have had ups and downs, but we always stick together and work as hard as we can.
“Since the new ownership, there has been a positive push in the team, so it will also be exciting to go into this new era. Many motorsport experts are becoming part of Sauber, which is a good sign for the future. For 2017 my aim is to build on my performance from the second half of this season, and to continue working hard with the team. I cannot wait for the 2017 season, so that we can make our way up to the midfield with the objective to score points on a regular basis.”
“During the current season, Marcus has again showed he is willing to go that extra mile in order to make progress,” said team boss Monisha Kaltenborn. “He went through very difficult times with us, but managed those very well. In the last two years, he has made significant steps in regards to his personal development, proving his skills on as well as off track, especially when circumstances are not easy.
“He is not only a good driver, but also an important team player who understands how to work with the team and how to motivate everyone with his positive attitude. Formula One goes into a new era in 2017, and I am confident that we can count on Marcus to bring the team back into the competition.”
