Sauber poised to introduce first updates of 2016 Formula 1 season

The Swiss team has suffered cashflow problems this year, with staff not being paid on time for three successive months.

As a result, while updates have been worked on at the factory, there has not been the funds available to put them into production, leaving the team with a car almost identical to the one that ran in pre-season testing.

Team boss Monisha Kaltenborn has been talking to prospective new sponsors and progress is believed to have been made in recent weeks.

"In two or three races' time, updates could be there if it works out as we hope," Marcus Ericsson told Autosport.

"That would be welcome, not only because we're get new parts but also because it is a boost for everyone.

"That energy you get from bringing some updates is something we all need in the team so I'm looking forward to it."

Ericsson was cautious on what to expect from the updates, which are aimed at improving drivability, but he remains hopeful based on results at the factory.

"You never know how good or bad they will be, even if they look alright in the factory," he said.

"The numbers look promising, but we'll see how much it is.

"It won't turn the world upside down but hopefully it will bring us closer to the points.

"In Canada, we were running quite close to Haas, which was encouraging as we're using a car that hasn't been updated all year. That's quite positive."

Speaking about the mood and financial situation of the team, Ericsson said: "Monisha and everyone are working hard to sort things out.

"It's been tough and it still is tough but from what I understand, it's looking better now than it has done for quite some time."