Ericsson doesn't see as much point in Sauber F1 reserve role now

Ericsson will be replaced by Antonio Giovinazzi at Sauber, but will continue to work with the squad he has raced for since 2015 as its reserve driver next season.

A month after that announcement, Ericsson secured a full-time IndyCar drive with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for 2019.

Sauber admitted earlier this month it would look for another driver to share the reserve role with Ericsson but, given there are eight F1/IndyCar clashes in 2019, Ericsson said his position at Sauber does not make a lot of sense.

"We still need to sit down after the season and discuss that because I made it very clear that I want to focus 100% on the racing programme for 2019 and with this IndyCar option I want to go all the way on that," said Ericsson.

"I'm still happy to keep a connection to the team but I need to see exactly what I will do and not do and what my role will be.

"But for sure my 110% focus needs to be on IndyCar because otherwise there's no point going there.

"I don't see myself coming to that many races but let's see after the season when we discuss it.

"But if I'm already in America, living there, racing there, I don't see myself coming every other weekend to an F1 race."

Ericsson joined Sauber for his second season in F1 and has taken part in 96 grands prix, scoring 18 points in that time.

The 28-year-old said he would not rule out a return, but admitted last weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix could have been his final F1 race as he plans to stay in America for "quite some time".

"It might very well be the last race ever for me in F1, but I don't want to close that door because you never know what will happen in the future," he said.

"I go to America fully committed to do well there and I see myself staying there for quite some time, but with that said you never know what happens in a couple of years.

"I'm closing this chapter for now and then we'll see in the future what happens."