Nasr to partner with Ericsson at Sauber in 2015 (Update)
 |
| Felipe Nasr – have check, will drive |
Basically the Swiss team has taken the two drivers on the market with the biggest budgets. Adrian Sutil had a firm two-year deal and presumably will have to be paid off, while Giedo van de Garde had been confident that he had the seat.
Team boss Monisha Kaltenborn said: "We have been following Felipe's career path for some time now, and he fully deserves his position in Formula One having had a very successful career in junior categories (read that we didn't look at him until his check was big enough). We are happy that he will be driving for our team next year (as we sure could use his money). This means that Brazil will have one more young and talented driver in the sport. Banco do Brasil has been an important partner for Felipe so far, and we are delighted that such a renowned company is continuing to support him during this important step. We look forward to this partnership."
Felipe Nasr added: "It is a very important step in my career to sign with the Sauber F1 Team for the 2015 Formula One World Championship. This is an unforgettable moment that I owe to all of those who have supported me – my family, my friends, my sponsors, my teams and my country. Today the dream has come true. Sauber was responsible for the arrival in F1 of great names such as Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen, Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel. I am proud now to also be part of this racing family. I had a wonderful year at Williams Martini, where I learned a lot and prepared myself to be a race driver in Formula One."
11/05/14
 |
| Esteban Gutierrez’s check wasn't big enough so he is out at Sauber |
Sauber has announced that Felipe Nasr will step up to Formula 1 with the team next season, partnering the already confirmed Marcus Ericsson in what is to be an all-new driver line-up for the Swiss outfit.
Nasr, 22, has this season acted as the Williams team's reserve driver, while he is also contesting his third term in the GP2 Series, where he holds second overall – with four wins – ahead of the Abu Dhabi finale.
Nasr's long-time personal sponsor, Banco do Brasil, also joins Sauber as a partner.
"It is a very important step in my career to sign with the Sauber F1 Team for the 2015 Championship," said Nasr, who beat current McLaren racer Kevin Magnussen to the 2011 British F3 title.
"This is an unforgettable moment that I owe to all of those who have supported me – my family, my friends, my sponsors, my teams and my country. Today the dream has come true.
"Sauber was responsible for the arrival in F1 of great names such as Felipe Massa, Kimi Räikkönen, Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel. I am proud now to also be part of this racing family.
"I had a wonderful year at Williams, where I learned a lot and prepared myself to be a race driver in Formula 1."
"We have been following Felipe's career path for some time now, and he fully deserves his position in Formula 1 having had a very successful career in junior categories," added Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn.
"We are happy that he will be driving for our team next year. This means that Brazil will have one more young and talented driver in the sport.
"Banco do Brasil has been an important partner for Felipe so far, and we are delighted that such a renowned company is continuing to support him during this important step. We look forward to this partnership."
The news means that both Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutiérrez are left without seats, while Giedo van der Garde will be forced to look elsewhere for his desired Formula 1 return.