Sauber F1 Team has failed in an appeal to "overturn a court ruling that says Giedo van der Garde should race for the team at Sunday's Australian Grand Prix," according to the BBC. Van der Garde, 29, said that he was "promised a race seat for this season, a claim backed by the Victoria Supreme Court this week." Three appeal judges ruled against the team on Thursday, "clearing the way for the Dutchman to compete this weekend." Sauber was also ordered to pay Van der Garde's legal costs. Van der Garde said, "Sauber has to work with us now. There is no other issue." It is "unclear whether Sauber will drop" one of its current drivers to accommodate Van der Garde in Melbourne this weekend, or race with Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr, "risking contempt of court." Reporters at the Victoria Supreme Court said that Van der Garde's legal team has "filed a contempt of court application to force Sauber to comply with the order." Van der Garde's lawyer said that failure to comply "could result in the seizure of Sauber's assets" (BBC, 3/12).
