Marcus Ericsson says Sauber has a “completely different mindset” in Formula 1 this year, and is no longer competing in “survival” mode, after he ended his points drought in Bahrain.
Ericsson has been with Sauber since the end of 2014 and scored a smattering of points through 2015, but failed to reach the top 10 across 2016/17, as the team struggled at the back of the grid.
Sauber was acquired mid-2016 by new investors and last year secured title sponsorship from Alfa Romeo, with the team having outlined a long-term plan to return to the midfield on a regular basis.
Ericsson executed a one-stop strategy in Bahrain to rise through the pack to claim ninth, bagging Sauber’s first points since last year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and his first since 2015’s Italian Grand Prix.
Ericsson explained that the result was made possible through the change in Sauber’s mindset, having got out of the notion of merely trying to “survive” each passing week.
“There’s a lot of things changing, [we have] completely different resources,” said Ericsson.
“It’s been a big change and you can feel it inside the team. You can feel the motivation is very high, people are believing again.
“It’s a big motivation to move up the grid, whereas it’s been more about the team surviving the last few years, so it’s not so much been pushing for performance, it’s been more pushing for trying to survive every week, every race.
“Having that mindset, it’s then difficult to get the results whereas now we go into the season to push, to make results and to move up the grid.
“It’s just a completely different mindset. For me, that’s been very nice to see.
“So far it’s been very good, but we still have a long way to go and we need to keep working hard but it’s been very positive.”
Ericsson also described his return to the points as a “great relief”, having come close to ending his drought on several previous occasions.
“I think I’ve had four times P11 since then,” Ericsson said on the 50-race gap since his last top 10 appearance.
“So, I was close a lot of times, and had some great races but it’s very difficult when you’re in the worst car on the grid.
“Some races I had a perfect race – and finished P14 or something like that.
“It’s frustrating, but of course we’re all here to try to score points. So to be back in the points last weekend was a great relief.”
