Rookie Formula One driver Marcus Ericsson has been given a new lease on his racing life, with Sauber announcing he's been hired for next season.
The talented Swedish driver moved up to F1 this season after a promising run up the motor racing ladder. He won the Formula BMW UK and Japanese Formula Three titles in 2007 and 2009, respectively, and was the victor in a handful of races in GP2 – including the headline GP2 Final race in 2011. He debuted this year with Caterham, but his future – and indeed, his current ride – was called into question when the British outfit recently collapsed into bankruptcy.
Although Sauber hasn't fared much better than Caterham this season, it's a much more established team that's retained some very talented drivers over the years, including Jean Alesi, Mika Salo, Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel, Jacques Villeneuve and Robert Kubica. Under BMW ownership, it finished second in the 2007 standings. The team retained Esteban Gutierrez and Adrian Sutil this season, but it has yet to announce whose place Ericsson will be taking for next year's championship.
Ericsson joins the 2015 roster as one of only a dozen drivers who've already been confirmed for next year, with seats at Lotus, McLaren and Toro Rosso still up for grabs, two teams not expected to return to the grid, and of course a big question mark looming over Ferrari and Fernando Alonso's next move.
The talented Swedish driver moved up to F1 this season after a promising run up the motor racing ladder. He won the Formula BMW UK and Japanese Formula Three titles in 2007 and 2009, respectively, and was the victor in a handful of races in GP2 – including the headline GP2 Final race in 2011. He debuted this year with Caterham, but his future – and indeed, his current ride – was called into question when the British outfit recently collapsed into bankruptcy.
Although Sauber hasn't fared much better than Caterham this season, it's a much more established team that's retained some very talented drivers over the years, including Jean Alesi, Mika Salo, Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel, Jacques Villeneuve and Robert Kubica. Under BMW ownership, it finished second in the 2007 standings. The team retained Esteban Gutierrez and Adrian Sutil this season, but it has yet to announce whose place Ericsson will be taking for next year's championship.
Ericsson joins the 2015 roster as one of only a dozen drivers who've already been confirmed for next year, with seats at Lotus, McLaren and Toro Rosso still up for grabs, two teams not expected to return to the grid, and of course a big question mark looming over Ferrari and Fernando Alonso's next move.
Sauber F1 Team announces Marcus Ericsson as its driver for 2015
01.11.2014 - Austin. The Sauber F1 Team is pleased to announce Marcus Ericsson as one of its race drivers for 2015. After his Formula One debut with the Caterham F1 Team this year, the Swede will head into his second season.
Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal:
"We are pleased to announce this cooperation. We have got to know Marcus as a highly motivated driver. He did not have an easy rookie season this year in Formula One, 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."
Marcus Ericsson:
"Fresh from a very turbulent week, I was suddenly given my best early Christmas present ever. 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."
The second driver for the 2015 season will be announced at a later date.
Marcus Ericsson
Date/Place of birth: 2nd September 1990 / Kumla (SWE)
Nationality: Swedish
Website: www.marcusericsson.com
Height / Weight: 1.80 m / 70 kg
Career:
2014 FIA Formula One Championship (Caterham F1 Team)
2013 6th place GP2 series
2012 8th place GP2 series
2011 10th place GP2 series
6th GP2 Asia
2010 11th place GP2 series
2009 1st place Japanese Formula 3
2008 5th place British Formula 3
2007 1st place Formula BMW UK
1999 – 2006
Karting Swedish and Nordic Champion – ICA Junior 2005
Swedish Champion – Formula Mini 2003
Rookie of the year and 4th overall – Swedish Formula Mini 2002
Rookie of the year – Swedish Formula Micro 2000
F1 stats to date:
First GP: Australia 2014
GP starts: 16
Best race result: 11th Monaco (2014)
01.11.2014 - Austin. The Sauber F1 Team is pleased to announce Marcus Ericsson as one of its race drivers for 2015. After his Formula One debut with the Caterham F1 Team this year, the Swede will head into his second season.
Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal:
"We are pleased to announce this cooperation. We have got to know Marcus as a highly motivated driver. He did not have an easy rookie season this year in Formula One, 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."
Marcus Ericsson:
"Fresh from a very turbulent week, I was suddenly given my best early Christmas present ever. 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."
The second driver for the 2015 season will be announced at a later date.
Marcus Ericsson
Date/Place of birth: 2nd September 1990 / Kumla (SWE)
Nationality: Swedish
Website: www.marcusericsson.com
Height / Weight: 1.80 m / 70 kg
Career:
2014 FIA Formula One Championship (Caterham F1 Team)
2013 6th place GP2 series
2012 8th place GP2 series
2011 10th place GP2 series
6th GP2 Asia
2010 11th place GP2 series
2009 1st place Japanese Formula 3
2008 5th place British Formula 3
2007 1st place Formula BMW UK
1999 – 2006
Karting Swedish and Nordic Champion – ICA Junior 2005
Swedish Champion – Formula Mini 2003
Rookie of the year and 4th overall – Swedish Formula Mini 2002
Rookie of the year – Swedish Formula Micro 2000
F1 stats to date:
First GP: Australia 2014
GP starts: 16
Best race result: 11th Monaco (2014)
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