Sauber team boss Fred Vasseur has not completely ruled out Pascal Wehrlein staying with the team next year, saying it would a “mistake” to retain Marcus Ericsson because of his connections.

Ericsson’s backers are the same as those who own Sauber and is therefore set to keep his spot at the team for the foreseeable future despite his poor showing.

Given Sauber’s renewed relationship with Ferrari, it is likely that Wehrlein is going to be marginalised by one of Ferrari’s rising stars – Charles Leclerc or Antonio Giovinazzi.

But Ericsson’s place is not completely assured, according to Vasseur.

“It would be a mistake to build a team around a driver just because he has a connection to the owner,” Vasseur told Auto Motor und Sport.