Marcus Ericsson urges Sauber to upgrade its mindset

©Sauber

Marcus Ericsson believes Sauber must approach each race with the mindset of a true mid-field contender and the ambition to score points.

The Swiss outfit's level of performance has undeniably improved this season following the team's financial and management restructuring which took place last year, and the strengthening of its technical ties with Ferrari.

Ericsson scored a top-ten finish in Bahrain for the first time since 2015 while rookie Charles Leclerc delivered a strong sixth-place finish to the team in Baku and another point in Spain.

The Swedish driver says the team's progress and results have boosted his mental approach, and insists Sauber's own mindset must follow suit.

"In Barcelona everyone was saying ‘oh this track shouldn’t suit us’ and within the team everyone was thinking ‘yeah it’s going to be tough’," said Ericsson.

"And I said ‘look guys we cannot go into the weekend thinking that, I think we can be here and mix it up’, that was my feeling going to Barcelona.

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"Then coming [to Monaco] before the weekend started, we knew this track could be difficult for us but I said we should be in the mix, we’re in the midfield now, we score points on a quite regular basis.

"We need to have that mindset as well as if we have the mindset of ‘oh this will be a difficult track for us’, it doesn’t work like that."

Confidence and motivation are a team's allies contends the Swede, and should permeate throughout the squad.

"We need to go into the weekend with confidence that we can be in the fight and that’s how we should go forwards into every weekend.

"I will go into every weekend now and have the aim to score points and get to Q2 and that’s how we need to work as a team I think."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.