Sauber: Ericsson won't do FP2 this afternoon

Ericsson lost control and spun out and ended in the tyre barriers in Turn 11, where he remained for an alarmingly long time as he tried to wriggle out of the cockpit with a fire engulfing the back right engine cover.

Thankfully he emerged in time and uninjured as marshals arrived on the scene to douse the flames with fire extinguishers. The Swede visited the track medical centre and was back in the paddock shortly after.

Sauber team chief Frederic Vasseur said of the incident, "For Marcus, it was a tough session this morning and he won't do FP2 this afternoon."

At that point, Ericsson was 14th fastest, a tenth down on teammate Charles Leclerc who also had a couple of spins in the car which Vasseur revealed has a "small update" for France.

When the Sauber returned to the pit garage, the extensive damage caused by the impact and the flames that licked the car was beyond repair for the afternoon session.