Ericsson skips IndyCar duties to join Alfa Romeo in Belgium

Marcus Ericsson will skip this weekend's IndyCar event in Portland in order to be at the Belgian Grand Prix with Alfa Romeo, although the Swede is not expected to race.

Ericsson raced alongside Charles Leclerc for the team under its Sauber guise last year, but was ousted by the arrival of Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio GIovinazzi.

Reports had suggested that Giovinazzi could make way for Ericsson to race at Spa-Francorchamps, but Alfa confirmed that Raikkonen and GIovinazzi will remain as their line-up.

Kimi is back, Antonio is back and they look forward to racing in Spa... and look who’s also with us this time, it’s Marcus! 🙌🏻👀 @Ericsson_Marcus #BelgianGP #AlfaRomeoRacing #GetCloser pic.twitter.com/mvMhqMKRES

— Alfa Romeo Racing (@alfaromeoracing) August 29, 2019

Ericsson was retained by Alfa as third driver in 2019 after he was dropped from the racing line-up.

However, the Swede switched to IndyCar to race for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and has one podium finish to his name in Detroit this season, having failed to take a top-three finish in 97 grand prix entries.

On request by @alfaromeoracing I will be in Belgium, SPA this weekend together with the team. It means I miss this weekends Indycar race at Portland. I wish @SPMIndyCar and @ConorDaly22 the best for the weekend. @F1 @IndyCar

— Marcus Ericsson (@Ericsson_Marcus) August 29, 2019

Conor Daly will replace Ericsson for SPM in Portland.