user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
Lauda slams Sauber 'negligence' amid Van der Garde affair

Lauda slams Sauber 'negligence' amid Van der Garde affair

  • Published on 13 Mar 2015 10:36
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Giedo van der Garde is still in the Albert Park paddock on Friday, even though Sauber's two other contracted race drivers were seated in the cars. But Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr went nowhere in Friday practice, highlighting the depth of the legal crisis at the struggling Swiss team.

Earlier, Dutchman van der Garde had pulled on Ericsson's race overalls and had a seat fitting in Nasr's car. But it is understood the team was simply complying with the local supreme court's order, amid the threat the cars could be seized and team boss Monisha Kaltenborn arrested.

Kaltenborn made her first appearance of the week on Friday, but is believed to have then left the paddock shortly afterwards. Sauber has not issued a single 'tweet' since Monday. The team is reportedly not fully cooperating with the van der Garde camp, amid rumours the 29-year-old's wealthy backers made a $8 million upfront payment last August.

As recently as Thursday evening, Sauber informed the FIA its drivers for the weekend are Nasr and Ericsson. Van der Garde had to obtain a guest pass simply to enter the paddock, and the FIA has accommodated him for the day in its offices. "I'm staying here," van der Garde said after taking off Ericsson's overalls as he walked through the Melbourne paddock in casual clothes.

The paddock rumour is that the FIA is helping him to fast-track his application for a super licence, which could be ready in time for Saturday practice and qualifying. "I don't know," van der Garde said when asked about that. "We'll see later."

Indeed, court proceedings resumed in Melbourne on Friday afternoon. Van der Garde's lawyer says Sauber is refusing to sign a document so that his super licence application can be formalised. "Sauber simply refuses to complete the paperwork," the lawyer said.

Around the paddock, although there is sympathy for the plight of F1's struggling smaller teams, many are unimpressed with Sauber's handling of the affair. Niki Lauda told the Swiss newspaper Blick the team's methods amid the crisis have been "strange". "Agreements must be complied with," said the Mercedes team chairman and F1 legend. "To put it politely, negligence is the same in any business around the world." (GMM)
F1 News Felipe Nasr Marcus Ericsson Mercedes Sauber

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Pos
Team
Points
1
Red Bull Racing
237
2
Ferrari
189
3
McLaren
124
4
Mercedes
64
5
Aston Martin
42
6
Visa Cash App RB
19
7
Haas F1
7
8
Alpine F1
1
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

BR Felipe Nasr -
  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country BR
  • Date of b. Aug 21 1992 (31)
  • Place of b. Brasilia, BR
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Mercedes
Mercedes
Show full profile
show sidebar