Breaking news

Formula 1

Same-spec Ferrari engine a "big leap" for Sauber - Ericsson

Marcus Ericsson has no doubts that Sauber's "beautiful" new Alfa Romeo-badged Formula 1 car will deliver an "important" leap forward in performance this year.

Jonathan Noble Franco Nugnes

Edited: Feb 8, 2018, 2:36 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Marcus Ericsson, Sauber

Marcus Ericsson and Charles Leclerc, Sauber

Marcus Ericsson, Sauber

Marcus Ericsson and Charles Leclerc, Sauber, Jean Todt, President, FIA, Chase Carey, CEO and Chairman of the Formula One Group, Sergio Marchionne, CEO FIAT, Frederic Vasseur, Sauber Team Principal

Marcus Ericsson, Sauber

The Swede has seen computer renderings of Sauber's new C37 and is full of excitement about the progress that can be expected – thanks to moving to a current Ferrari engine plus the team's closer ties to Maranello.

"I think it's a big leap to have the same engine as the Cavallino," Ericsson told Motorsport.com during an event with Formula Medicine this week.

"The team have a lot of confidence and a desire to do well. I got to see the car in a computer rendering and it seems very beautiful – it should be an important step forward.

"Alfa Romeo's partnership means the return of an historic brand to F1. It is one more reason to believe that Ferrari will give us maximum support to grow. I'm confident."

Sauber finished last in the constructors' championship in 2017, but its plight was not helped by it using a year-old Ferrari customer power unit.

For the season ahead, Ericsson believes Sauber's main opposition will be Haas and Toro Rosso, and thinks some occasional giant-killing performances are possible.

"We're up against Haas and Toro Rosso," he said. "I think next season will be very unpredictable in some races.

"It could go very well and at points we could also challenge Renault and Force India. But there will be other races where there will be problems and we will be further down.

"The goal is simply to get into the group of teams that are in the midfield – but it is clear that there will be a very open battle grand prix after grand prix.

"I want to be in the best shape possible to find the satisfaction that was missing in 2017."

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Hulkenberg denies he could "slack" with Palmer as teammate

Next article McLaren: Liberty mustn't bow to Mercedes/Ferrari in F1 rule talks

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

MotoGP's final Australian GP at Phillip Island cancelled due to poor weather

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Australian GP

17 min

MotoGP's final Australian GP at Phillip Island cancelled due to poor weather

2026 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Indonesian GP

2 h

2026 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more

There will be even less drag in Cup cars at Talladega on Sunday

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Talladega II

3 h

There will be even less drag in Cup cars at Talladega on Sunday

Kimi Antonelli delivers Austin surprise pole in tricky Mercedes: "Finally we're seeing the results"

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

4 h

Kimi Antonelli delivers Austin surprise pole in tricky Mercedes: "Finally we're seeing the results"

Feature

Discover prime content

What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 United States GP

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 United States GP

Max Verstappen’s words explained: Why Red Bull’s turnaround is so different this time

Formula 1

United States GP

By Ronald Vording

Max Verstappen’s words explained: Why Red Bull’s turnaround is so different this time

Mission control: Inside the FIA and F1's latest answer to football's VAR

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

Mission control: Inside the FIA and F1's latest answer to football's VAR

How Kimi Antonelli levelled up his character to be F1 2026's world champion-elect

Formula 1

United States GP

By Filip Cleeren

How Kimi Antonelli levelled up his character to be F1 2026's world champion-elect

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts