12/03/2015
NEWS STORY
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.
Check out our Thursday gallery, here.