Giedo Van Der Garde takes Sauber to court

steve nielsen · 5 Mar 2015, 09:44 (Ref:3511966)

He demands a seat in the Sauber in Melbourne.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...-1227249857089

http://m.heraldsun.com.au/sport/moto...-1227249857089

very little chance of Giedo getting what he asked for imho

**bella** · 5 Mar 2015, 11:23 (Ref:3512001)

didn't he do the same kind of thing to force india or whoever they were at the time? or am i thinking of van der zande?

steve nielsen · 5 Mar 2015, 11:25 (Ref:3512004)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bella

didn't he do the same kind of thing to force india or whoever they were at the time?

yes he did, he started a lawsuit against Spyker for not giving him enough testmiles.

**bella** · 5 Mar 2015, 11:28 (Ref:3512005)

that's the one. he either doesn't learn, or he needs new management!

Mike Harte · 5 Mar 2015, 12:08 (Ref:3512026)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bella

that's the one. he either doesn't learn, or he needs new management!

Or could it be that his "backers" need to come up with the dosh that they have promised that got him on to the books in the first place?

JeremySmith · 6 Mar 2015, 02:44 (Ref:3512323)

This is a complete nonsense what does he think that he can gain by doing this ??

maximus · 6 Mar 2015, 12:36 (Ref:3512452)

Money. Which if I read rightly he may be entitled to as he had a valid contract with Sauber. I think he has a right in this case regardless of past activities as both himself and Sutil have been treated badly IMO.

**bella** · 6 Mar 2015, 12:44 (Ref:3512458)

dunno, if it's a case of survival you can hardly blame sauber for turning round and going "sorry, but...". in any case, this sort of thing will probably mark him out as a troublemaker to the kind of team who would be despe... er, in the market for his services.

if he's after money then surely he and his wife's dad are barking up the wrong tree unless they'd actually already handed over a deposit for the 2015 drive?

maximus · 6 Mar 2015, 12:52 (Ref:3512460)

The impression I got (and I can't remember which article!) was that Geido and his backers had apparently already handed over money for a 2015 drive, only to then be dropped. If this is true than very poor form by Sauber and I wouldn't blame anyone taking them to court. I think a Swiss arbitration board has already ruled in his favour.

I don't like the bloke but in this case I support him is the facts are true.

nobster · 8 Mar 2015, 15:53 (Ref:3512991)

Swiss court has already ruled in favour of van defrGarde against Sauber, all he wants now is to drive, that is after all what he signed up for and what according swiss law Sauber must do.

Sodemo · 8 Mar 2015, 16:08 (Ref:3512994)

Nothing good can come from this.

GT6 · 8 Mar 2015, 17:27 (Ref:3513013)

A real mess and saubers finances are not in a strong position so lets hope they can reach some sort of agreement

Nicholosophy · 9 Mar 2015, 03:38 (Ref:3513135)

Poor form to pay for something and not receive it.

Don't know how this is going to help him though. Maybe force Sauber to do a deal with Manor for the second seat there?

JacobP · 9 Mar 2015, 05:19 (Ref:3513139)

The real problem right now is the struggling teams, like Sauber, who think that just because they happen to be struggling they can renege on all the previous agreements in order to hire the next highest paying pay driver. We have seen this happen many times over the last few years. I assume Sauber will settle with Van Der Garde just like Lotus settled with Heidfeld couple of years ago.

**GTRMagic** · 9 Mar 2015, 06:17 (Ref:3513145)

Court Case Under Way

Interesting argument from Sauber... 'He wont fit..'

Bramzel · 9 Mar 2015, 07:30 (Ref:3513162)

Sauber has a problem. They have 3 drivers under legal contract, and only 2 seats. That means they will have to settle with one of them. On top of this there's Sutil lurking in the shadows (according to Autosport.nl), as appartently Sauber pulled this very same stunt on him as well. Which would mean they sold both seats twice...

To be honest I think the timing of this story combined with the fact that Manor still hasn't announced their second driver could be an indication of what this is about. When Vd Garde left Aguri Suzuki to join Spyker he had already signed a contract with them. This blocked him from joining Spyker in the end, as one cannot serve two masters. Right now VdG still has a contract with Sauber, as Sauber cancelled the contract one-sided. This means he couldn't join Manor even if he wanted to, something he learnt the hard way back in 2007.

steve nielsen · 9 Mar 2015, 08:07 (Ref:3513167)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bramzel

Sauber has a problem. They have 3 drivers under legal contract, and only 2 seats.

they have 4: Sutil also has a contract

Michael24 · 9 Mar 2015, 08:48 (Ref:3513177)

Wasn't there an article in some rulebook somewhere that specifically dealt with the act of "bringing the sport into disrepute"? Couldn't have been motorsport ... There wouldn't have been anyone left in to run the show.

Pontlieue · 9 Mar 2015, 08:59 (Ref:3513181)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael24

Wasn't there an article in some rulebook somewhere that specifically dealt with the act of "bringing the sport into disrepute"? Couldn't have been motorsport ... There wouldn't have been anyone left in to run the show.

I don't know if there was a rule, but Andrea Moda were kicked out of F1 for that reason in 1992.

**GTRMagic** · 9 Mar 2015, 09:03 (Ref:3513184)

Court To Rule On Wednesday

Which of the announced Sauber pilots would get punted for this pilot??

steve nielsen · 9 Mar 2015, 09:05 (Ref:3513185)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Court To Rule On Wednesday

Which of the announced Sauber pilots would get punted for this pilot??

Nasr was contracted last

but that would mean Sauber losing the Banco do Brasil money wich seems to be their biggest sponsor at the moment.

wnut · 9 Mar 2015, 09:54 (Ref:3513205)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Court To Rule On Wednesday

Which of the announced Sauber pilots would get punted for this pilot??

In other words, "Gentlemen, you have until Wednesday to sort out your differences, if you don't the court will sort them out for you, and you may not like the result!"

Mike Harte · 9 Mar 2015, 10:00 (Ref:3513208)

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve nielsen

Nasr was contracted last

but that would mean Sauber losing the Banco do Brasil money wich seems to be their biggest sponsor at the moment.

It's not quite that simple, though!

It would seem as that part of the deal with Sauber's two "current" drivers that their backers agreed to inject money into the team at the end of last year. This cash was required by Sauber so that they could remain in business, and, so it is reported, that they could continue to employ 300 plus individuals. It sounds as though Sauber was almost insolvent, and might well have folded towards the end of the year without the financial injection.

It would therefore be very difficult, if not financially impossible, for Sauber to substitute drivers at this point. In fact, it sounds as though it might be akin to committing financial suicide.

aj_308 · 9 Mar 2015, 10:35 (Ref:3513218)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

It's not quite that simple, though!

It would seem as that part of the deal with Sauber's two "current" drivers that their backers agreed to inject money into the team at the end of last year. This cash was required by Sauber so that they could remain in business, and, so it is reported, that they could continue to employ 300 plus individuals. It sounds as though Sauber was almost insolvent, and might well have folded towards the end of the year without the financial injection.

It would therefore be very difficult, if not financially impossible, for Sauber to substitute drivers at this point. In fact, it sounds as though it might be akin to committing financial suicide.

Reading between the lines, didn't GvDG's "contract" involve the sponsor putting in money last year to solve their insolvency problems on the proviso that he have a racing seat this year?

I wonder who's money they have taken for next years drive? Pending someone coming up with more!

I don't think its fair to promise a driver a race seat so you can get his sponsorship money, then not giving him the seat.
If this is what they did I hope they do get made a right fool of as thats jolly poor form.

**bella** · 9 Mar 2015, 11:30 (Ref:3513236)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael24

Wasn't there an article in some rulebook somewhere that specifically dealt with the act of "bringing the sport into disrepute"? Couldn't have been motorsport ... There wouldn't have been anyone left in to run the show.

there's usually a rule like that in most series sporting regs but it rarely sees the light of day because really the act of using it brings the sport into disrepute too!

it's good that this is coming out, and i hope more about exactly why sauber had to take his money and screw him over comes out too. it's all going to make the sport look ridiculous and that's a good thing. it needs shaming.

unusual of sauber to be doing it though. especially with a lawyer in charge.

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