Sauber has officially announced that it has extended Marcus Ericsson's contract for a third year.

The Swede will go into his third season for the Swiss Team, having made his debut with Caterham in 2014, 2017 will mark the fourth season of his Formula One career.

"It is great news that I will be racing for another year for Sauber," said Ericsson. "I have spent two years with Sauber now, and I really feel at home. A big thanks to everyone within the team for trusting in me again.

"From a personal point of view, I have developed a lot as a driver during my time at Sauber. We have had ups and downs, but we always stick together and work as hard as we can.

"Since the new ownership, there has been a positive push in the team, so it will also be exciting to go into this new era. Many motorsport experts are becoming part of Sauber, which is a good sign for the future.

"For 2017 my aim is to build on my performance from the second half of this season, and to continue working hard with the team. I cannot wait for the 2017 season, so that we can make our way up to the midfield with the objective to score points on a regular basis."

"We are very pleased to announce that Marcus will remain our race driver for 2017," added Monisha Kaltenborn. "During the current season Marcus has again showed he is willing to go that extra mile in order to make progress. He went through very difficult times with us, but managed those very well.

"In the last two years, he has made significant steps in regards to his personal development, proving his skills on as well as off track, especially when circumstances are not easy.

"He is not only a good driver, but also an important team player who understands how to work with the team and how to motivate everyone with his positive attitude.

"Formula One goes into a new era in 2017, and I am confident that we can count on Marcus to bring the team back into the competition."

The second driver for the Swiss team will be announced in due course.