CONFIRMED: Giovinazzi in, Ericsson out at Sauber

Alfa Romeo Sauber have confirmed that Antonio Giovinazzi will partner Kimi Raikkonen in the team's 2019 Formula One line-up next season, which means Marcus Ericsson has now been given his marching orders from first-team duties, with a reserve driver role awaiting next year.

Giovinazzi has already experienced two F1 races when he was made available as a replacement for the recovering Pascal Wehrlein. The Italian is part of Ferrari's young driver programme and is set to partner Raikkonen, who is making a return to the team after it was announced he would be leaving the Scuderia.

In a statement released on their official website, Sauber outlined the reasons for their decision.

"Alfa Romeo and the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team are delighted to announce that Antonio Giovinazzi will race alongside 2007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen, completing the team’s driver line-up for the 2019 season," the statement read.

"Following its tradition of discovering and nurturing young talents, the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team has appointed the Italian driver, who has worked with the team for the past two years, to race in place of Charles Leclerc.

"The decision to elect Antonio Giovinazzi is particularly significant in the scope of the project that this season saw the return of Alfa Romeo to the pinnacle of motorsports after a hiatus of more than 30 years.

"The coming together of Alfa Romeo and the Italian driver was natural, also considering the strong bond that has tied Giovinazzi to the brand from an early age, and is a source of national pride considering that several years have passed since an Italian driver has competed in Formula One."

Giovinazzi is replacing another Ferrari junior in Leclerc, who will be promoted to the Prancing Horse in 2019 to partner Sebastian Vettel.The 24-year-old's last full race calendar came in GP2, but he knows he will be ready for his "dream" move.

“I am delighted to be joining the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team," Giovinazzi said after the announcement.

"This is a dream come true, and it is a great pleasure to have the chance to race for this team. As an Italian, it is a huge honour for me to represent a brand as iconic and successful as Alfa Romeo in our sport. I would like to thank the Scuderia Ferrari and the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team for giving me this great opportunity.

"I am very motivated and cannot wait to start working towards achieving great results together.”

Ericsson, meanwhile, has been retained as a reserve driver and brand ambassador for Sauber.

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