Despite being forced out a seat at his team Sauber after four years, Marcus Ericsson is still happy to continue working as a reserve driver and as an ambassador for the Swiss team rather than as a driver.
The Swede must've seen it coming when Kimi Raikkonen was announced to be driving for Sauber in a swap deal with Ferrari, as Ferrari were likely going to use the second seat at Sauber for one of their youth drivers. Their agreement allows them to do this; Leclerc was a Ferrari youth driver as well.
That's why Sauber explained earlier that Giovinazzi, Sauber's newly announced driver, was replacing Leclerc, not Ericsson. Raikkonen is the one that Ericsson was sacrificed for.
The 28-year-old Ericsson will finish the season at Sauber, but doesn't seem to be to upset about the news.
"Regarding today's news. I'm proud of what I've achieved in these last years in F1," the Swede said on his social media.
"I will continue in the same spirit, aiming to finish the season on a high!
"And I'm happy to continue working with Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team next year in a new role.
"Today is not the end of the story, it's just the start of a new chapter."