Sauber's Marcus Ericsson has hit out at “bulls**t” rumours suggesting that he has been favoured over team-mate Pascal Wehrlein, following the exit of team boss Monisha Kaltenborn.
Sauber confirmed on Wednesday that Kaltenborn had departed amid disagreements over the team’s future direction, and also moved to deny speculation arising from some media outlets that one driver was being given preferential treatment.
When asked of the rumours about driver favouritism, Ericsson replied: “When I read all these stories they were upsetting for me – and the whole team.
“It’s very disrespectful. All these rumours were false and untrue – and a slap in the face of every single member of Sauber F1.
“This is a team that works day and night to get back to success – with both cars and both drivers.
“And if somebody dreams up such a story it becomes a fact and everybody copies this bulls**t that the team is giving unfair advantages. This is completely unfair and disrespectful.”
Ericsson added that Kaltenborn’s exit, ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, came as a surprise.
“It was very sudden indeed,” Ericsson explained to the official F1 website.
“It’s a very new situation for me as a driver. First, I have a lot to thank Monisha for – she was the one who gave me the chance after my one-year stay at Caterham – but also us as a team.
“She has been with the team for such a long time. Secondly, we have to trust that the owners know what they are doing and that they have a good plan for the future.”
Sauber holds ninth place in the Constructors' Championship, courtesy of the points scored by Wehrlein in Spain.
Discussion about this post