Sauber F1 Team driver Marcus Ericsson believes a Scandinavian Grand Prix would be a huge success if the Formula 1 Championship returned to the region; the last Grand Prix in the Scandinavian area was the 1978 Swedish GP at Anderstorp.
On the 2016 F1 grid there are three drivers including Ericsson from Scandinavia and the surrounding regions, with both Kimi Raikkonen at Scuderia Ferrari and Valtteri Bottas at Williams Martini Racing from Finland.
Ericsson acknowledges that a country like Sweden might not have the money that it costs to do a race but does believe the level of interest in the region could turn it into a reality.
“I don’t see it happening for a long time but it would be cool for the sport if we can have a race in northern Europe,” said Ericsson to Autosport. “We have Swedes, Finns and a lot of tradition for motorsport in Scandinavia.
“So to have a race there would be very, very good and I think a lot of people would watch it. As it is now, the money it costs to do a race, I don’t see a country like Sweden will have the money. But I think for sure, there would be great interest for it.”
Ericsson became the first Swede to participate in a Grand Prix since Stefan Johansson’s final appearance in the 1991 Canadian Grand Prix, during his début season with the Caterham F1 Team back in 2014, and he appreciates the support he receives from his homeland.
“The support I have in Sweden is great,” said Ericsson. “We didn’t have a driver in F1 for 23 years before I entered the sport, so I appreciate the support. It’s great and I can see with my results getting better, there are more people following.”
