The Sauber Formula One team are in a state of crisis, with its very survival in doubt, after losing their appeal against a court verdict that Giedo van der Garde should drive for them.
That means Sauber effectively have three drivers, having already announced that Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr would be their drivers in 2015. Both men – particularly the Brazilian Nasr – bring in considerable and much needed sponsorship money.
Van der Garde’s participation in Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix is still in considerable doubt because the Dutch driver does not have a super licence. But there are suggestions Sauber could find themselves in contempt of court if they don’t race him.
Sauber are in a mess of their own making and the team principal, Monisha Kaltenborn, is expected to attempt a settlement with Van der Garde, if she can find the money. However, it is thought Van der Garde wants to push for the drive he was promised last year.
Less than an hour after the appeal verdict was handed down, van der Garde’s lawyer called for the potential sequestration of Sauber’s assets and committal of its directors if the team failed to comply.
Sauber have since been asked to provide a list of those assets, which includes their cars and equipment at Melbourne’s Albert Park in place for the race. Court proceeding were due to continue here on Friday morning.
Speaking outside court, Van der Garde said: “Sauber has to work with us now. There is no other issue. I’m also confident the super licence can be fast-tracked.”
Speaking ahead of the appeal verdict former Sauber driver Felipe Massa, now with Williams, gave his support to Van der Garde. “It shouldn’t be the way people should be treating drivers. They should respect drivers,” he said. “Everyone should be treated fairly, and if there is a contract then that should be respected because there are rules and they have to be followed.
“Sometimes you hear stories in F1 of drivers having a contract with a team and they just get kicked out, or drivers who are owed money. Giedo is a good example. Drivers should stand up for their rights, so I see it as a good thing for all drivers, but also anyone in F1 as they should be treated the same as any worker in the world.”
A statement read out in court on Thursday said: “We did not consider this course [the appeal] to be in the interest of justice. The appeal is dismissed because we see no error in the reasons of the trial judge.”
Sauber had argued there were safety concerns because their cars had been prepared for Ericsson and Nasr. But these were dismissed by the court.
“As the judge observed, these events are highly-regulated and we are sure that all safety requirements will be complied with,” the statement added.
