Ericsson to use Leclerc's move for new deal

Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson believes that he can use his team-mate Charles Leclerc's move to Ferrari as a factor in Sauber offering him a contract extension.

With Leclerc moving to Ferrari next season, Ericsson hopes he will be lining up with Kimi Raikkonen - who is making the opposite move to the departing Leclerc.

Raikkonen's move is understood to be an independent deal with the Alfa Romeo side, meaning Ferrari could still use their option on one of Sauber's seats and place junior driver Antonio Giovinazzi there, alongside Raikkonen.

Ericsson is hoping that he can use comparisons with his exiting team-mate to sell himself a new contract with the side.

"They haven't really given me any specifics or a timeframe for it, but I know I need to perform now," Ericsson told Autosport. "I feel that I stepped it up the last five or six weekends.

"I scored more points than Charles (in the last five races prior to Singapore) and Charles has signed a contract with Ferrari for a few years so I think that says quite a bit.

"If I can keep doing that, or even better, that's what I need to do. If that's enough for a contract or not that's not up to me, but I need to keep pushing and trying to impress."