Motorsport: Sauber fires team principal

Marcus Ericsson driving for the Sauber F1 Team exits pit lane. Photo / Getty Images

Swiss Formula One outfit Sauber have fired team principal Monisha Kaltenborn ahead of the weekend's European Grand Prix in Azerbaijan, according to several media reports on Thursday.

Sauber have only four points in the season's constructors' standings and are second last, above only McLaren.

Kaltenborn was made principal in 2012 - the first woman in F1 in such a role, to replace team founder Peter Sauber. Success has remained elusive however with only modest results in subsequent seasons.

Sauber, frequently battling financial difficulties, were sold last year to new owners.