Marcus Ericsson admits he feels “a bit nervous” heading into the 2017 finale without a contract for next year, and concedes his future is reliant on the level of Sauber’s collaboration with Ferrari.
Ericsson has been with Sauber since the end of 2014 and has an affiliation with the team’s owners, but his plans have not yet been determined, amid the outfit’s ongoing discussions with Ferrari.
Sauber is poised to promote Ferrari-backed youngster Charles Leclerc to the team for one seat, and his team-mate is dependent on the nature of the partnership between Sauber and Ferrari.
Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi has been mooted as a candidate, and while Ericsson feels he has a strong chance of staying into 2018, he admits he is not fully in control of the situation.
“[I’m] a bit nervous, it feels a bit weird, going to the last race of the season not having anything sorted for next year,” he said.
“It is a bit of a worry then but I still feel confident I will be on the grid next year but in this business you can never be sure before you have a contract signed.
“I think from what I understand it’s [the delay] talks with Ferrari and how much collaboration, and what they will include.
“For me that’s what’s been taking the time; Ferrari has bene pushing to get two drivers in the team and I mean that’s the main worry for me at the moment, but that’s not decided yet.
“Otherwise I’m quite hopeful/confident I will be one of the drivers unless Ferrari gets two drivers obviously.”
On whether an announcement was possible this weekend, Ericsson said: “I don’t think so, I don’t know – I haven’t signed anything yet, if there’s an announcement it’s not good for me!”
Ericsson has not scored a point in Formula 1 since 2015.
