Sauber's appeal against Giedo Van der Garde's claim to a race seat in this weekend's season opener has failed.

The Swiss team had appealed Wednesday's ruling in Victoria's Supreme Court which itself upheld a ruling by the Arbitration Institution in Switzerland, which had ordered that Sauber should not take any action to prevent Van der Garde from driving for it.

Dismissing Sauber's appeal, because they could see "no error in the reasoning of the trial judge", the judges, headed by Justice Simon Whelan, also ordered the Swiss team to pay Van der Garde's legal costs.

Speaking after the ruling, which saw Sauber continue to argue that the Dutch driver constituted a safety risk, Van der Garde insisted: "I still have a very good relation with the team".

Other than safety fears, the Swiss team pointing out that the Dutchman has not driven the car or been fitted for a seat or safety belts, Sauber claimed that he does not have the requisite super-licence. However, the FIA's race director, Charlie Whiting, subsequently suggested that this should not constitute a problem. It will next year however.

It is unclear at this stage what happens next and which of its drivers will be dropped this weekend, Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr both bringing around £10m in sponsorship to the team.

Sauber has yet to react to the decision, though there is talk that Van der Garde may yet file a contempt of court application in order to force Sauber to comply with the ruling.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Martin B, 12/03/2015 19:53

"Who wants to bet against VDG's car suddenly stopping out on track sometime on Sunday????
"

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2. Posted by Martin B, 12/03/2015 19:51

"Van der Garde may be legally correct but he's hardly doing
himself any favours in terms of his future career is he?????"

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3. Posted by kiwi2wheels, 12/03/2015 17:06

"@ REV

The situation may force the shareholders to decide they need a real team principal, this time choose a guy with a racing background, not a **** lawyer !

Motormouths for all the PR "fluff" tasks are a dime a dozen. "

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4. Posted by REV, 12/03/2015 14:03

"A shame that Sauber is in this situation. Understand that van der Garde is legally in the right, but losing either Ericsson's or Nasr's money may well be the last straw for Sauber. Guido may well kill the team he wants to drive for..."

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5. Posted by kiwi2wheels, 12/03/2015 8:28

"Sauber's sponsors must be wondering WTF, have they have committed themselves to a F1 team or a reality TV circus?"

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6. Posted by CL, 12/03/2015 7:33

"Famn autocorrect - I meant "you want to drive" - but stir works in a way..."

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7. Posted by CL, 12/03/2015 7:31

"So VDG turns up, he's in the car and says "fire her up"...Sauber say "you want to stir, you fire her up...we put you in the seat, the rest is up to you!"

I know, it wouldn't happen, but boy would it make good TV!"

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Sauber's appeal fails

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