Marcus Ericsson has been demoted rather than dismissed from Sauber after it was announced that Antonio Giovinazzi would replace him in the Swiss team and partner veteran Kimi Raikkonen in 2019.
Sauber wrote in a press release: "The Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team is delighted to announce that Marcus Ericsson will continue to be part of the team by taking on the role of third driver and brand ambassador from the 2019 season."
Ericsson, who is well connected with the Swedish business figures that have shares in the team, said, "I am thankful for the past five years of my career which I have spent racing in Formula One."
"I am proud to have represented Sauber for four of those years, and for having raced for such an iconic brand as Alfa Romeo this season. I would have loved to continue on this path, but having a driver like Kimi Räikkönen on board is a great opportunity for the whole team."
"Going forward, I will continue contributing to the development of the team as I have always done, with full dedication and all of my support," added Ericsson.
Sauber CEO Frédéric Vasseur, added, "We would like to thank Marcus for his dedication to the team and for the great job he has done over the past four years. We are very pleased that he will continue being part of the Sauber family in the future."
"In 2018, the team has made important progress and Marcus’ work has been essential to our development. He has a long history with our team, and we look forward to our new shared chapter. Together, we will strive to continue moving in this positive direction," concluded Vasseur.
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