With the main news on Wednesday (29/11/17) that Sauber announced that they have signed a multi-year technical and commercial partnership contract with Alfa Romeo, therefore the team will be renamed to Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team for the 2018 season onwards.
Ferrari-backed Leclerc had been widely tipped to graduate to Formula 1 in 2018 with Sauber, having winning this seasons Formula 2 title in his rookie season with the Prema team; received multiple practice and test outings through the second half of 2017 with Sauber
Leclerc who is 20, will be replacing Pascal Wehrlein (who more than likely return to the DTM series next season), will partner Ericsson, who will be driving his fourth season for the team. While, Antonio Giovinazzi who replace an injured Wehrlein for the first two Grands Prixs' at the start of the F1 season, will take up a reserve role with Sauber next season, and is set to partake in selected FP1 sessions throughout the season.
Leclerc becomes Monaco's first driver on the Formula 1 grid since Olivier Beretta, who raced for Larrousse during the 1994 F1 season.
Sauber will return to using current-spec Ferrari power units next season and on Wednesday confirmed that it had reached a multi-year technical and commercial deal with Alfa Romeo.
Alfa Romeo, part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, of which Ferrari chief Sergio Marchionne is the CEO, will act as title sponsor, marking the brand's return to Formula 1 for the first time since the 1985 F1 season.
Overall, its the not the right decision for Ericsson to stay at Sauber for another season, I would have retain Pascal Wehrlein who scored more points then Ericsson this season or even promoted Antonio Giovinazzi instead.
As for Charles Leclerc, this is not a big surprise this news happen. It has been strongly rumoured since the Hungarian Grand Prix in August that Leclerc will step up to Formula 1 with Sauber, which is truly deserve in my opinion.
Anyway, good luck for both Marcus Ericsson and Charles Leclerc next season at Sauber.
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