Marcus Ericsson says he can take a lot of confidence into this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix after finishing ninth last weekend at the Hockenheimring, his third points finish of 2018.
The Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team driver survived the mixed conditions in Germany to add two points to his tally, meaning he has five to his name after the first eleven races of the season, with this weekend’s race at the Hungaroring the final race before the mid-season break.
Ericsson feels the Hungaroring track is very tough for both driver and car but with progress continuing to be made with the C37-Ferrari and eighteen points scored between himself and team-mate Charles Leclerc, expectations are higher now than they were earlier in the season, and points are now the target every weekend for Sauber.
“After a strong race at Hockenheim I go to Budapest with an extra boost of confidence,” said Ericsson. “The team feels positive and we are ready to tackle the last race before summer shutdown.
“The Budapest track is a very technical one. It has a lot of corners, and it is quite intense to drive there – it reminds me of a go-kart track. It is a tough circuit for both the driver and the car, however, with the car and good form we have at the moment we should be able to fight for good results there.”
Ericsson says he will also be boosted by the Swedish fans who traditionally flock to the Hungaroring, and he hopes to give them a fourth points finish after his previous top tens in Bahrain, Austria and Germany.
“There are a lot of Swedish flags around the track, which always gives me extra motivation, so I look forward to seeing the Swedish fans at Budapest as well,” said Ericsson. “Let’s see what is possible.”
