Sauber Formula 1 driver Marcus Ericsson is viewing hꦇis move to the United States to race in the Verizon IndyCar Series from 2019 as a long-term project, saying he expects to remain in the series "for quite some time."

Ericsson confirmed at the end of last month he had signed 🔥with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for the full IndyCar season in 2019, having lost his seat at Sauber to Ferrari junior Antonio Giovinazzi.

Ericsson will combin𒅌e his IndyCar commitments with a reserve and ambassadorial role with Sauber, but is not viewing IndyCar as being a stop-gap prior to a movꦿe back into F1.

"I'm going to America fully committed to doing a great job over there. I see myself as being ther♉e for quite some time," Ericsson said.

"But then in the future you never♓ know what will happꦛen. I’m just super excited to go there. I met the team and it felt really, really good.

"I think IndyCar, from the outside, looks like a lot of fun, so I can’t wait to get started✃."

While Ericsson said his five-year stint in F1 had been "amazing," the Swede conceded he was looking forward to racing in a championship where he would onc🍸e again have an opportunity to🤪 fight for race wins at the front of the field.

"Most of the time, I’ve been running in back-of-the-grid teams and cars and that’s always tough, especially when you’re used to growing up through the junior ranks and you always fight for wins and podiums," Ericsso📖n said.

"You always go in with that mindset to a race weekend, and the💛n the last five years that’s never been realistic and that’s been the tough part of it.

"That’s why also I’m so excit𓆉ed about next year, that I can actually be back racing for wins a🉐gain.

"I bring a lot of experience and a lot of good memories from🌳 thes🎉e five years, for sure."