Caterham’s Ericsson set to bailout Sauber (Update)
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| Marcus Ericsson – have check will drive |
This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today with this announcement. Sauber has confirmed that Marcus Ericsson will race for the team in Formula 1 next year.
The Swede made his debut with Caterham this season, but the Leafield outfit is missing this weekend's United States Grand Prix after being placed into administration.
"Fresh from a very turbulent week, I was suddenly given my best early Christmas present ever," said Ericsson.
"The Sauber F1 Team has put its trust in me for 2015, and it makes me proud, as Sauber is known to be one of the best teams in developing young drivers.
"It will be a great challenge. I will give my very best to develop both as a driver, and to be part of the challenge to put the Sauber F1 Team back closer to the front where it belongs."
"We have got to know Marcus as a highly motivated driver," added team boss Monisha Kaltenborn.
"He did not have an easy rookie season this year in Formula 1, however, he kept calm and improved continuously, mainly in the last races.
"We are convinced that signing Marcus can give the team a fresh impetus."
Sauber added that Ericsson's teammate will be announced at a later date, and will be depend who can write the largest check.
10/31/14 (GMM) Marcus Ericsson looks set to keep his formula one career alive by signing with Sauber for 2015.
Said to carry some $18 million in personal sponsorship, the Swedish rookie is trackside in Austin this weekend despite the absence of his failing existing team, Caterham.
"I had the ticket anyway," he told Speed Week, "but I came here because I want to maintain contact with the sport.
"I'm sad that I cannot drive but it's important for me to meet with some people," the 24-year-old added.
Roger Benoit, the veteran correspondent for the Swiss newspaper Blick, claims Ericsson will replace either Adrian Sutil or Esteban Gutierrez at Sauber next year.
The news came as the Swiss team's boss and co-owner Monisha Kaltenborn slammed the financial situation in F1, as the struggling privateers begin to collapse.
"I think I'm beyond the stage of frustration," she said.
"It's one thing to always talk about this terrible scenario that some teams are not going to be there, but that the sport and the people responsible for the sport have let it come that far is extremely disturbing," Kaltenborn added.
"I think the worst part is that we're damaging the sport with this so much that I think the owners of the product of the sport should think what they're doing here."
The Spanish sports daily Marca said one struggling team, perhaps Sauber, has illustrated the point by leaking the precise minimum cost of putting two cars on the grid for the entire season — EUR 94.4 million.
So with Ericsson's millions said to be arriving in 2015, attention now turns to who – the strongly Mexican-backed Gutierrez or German Sutil – will have to make way.
Sutil doesn't think it will be him, insisting on Thursday there is "no change" in his contractual partnership with Sauber, which continues through 2015.
Gutierrez, meanwhile, said: "I think in the next three weeks we will know what will happen with me. Nothing in life is guaranteed — and that goes even more so for formula one."