Dutch F1 driver Giedo van der Garde has made an "impassioned plea" for the rights of aspiring Formula 1 drivers "broken" by the sport as he announced a "multimillion-pound settlement after his controversial court action against the Sauber team," according to Kevin Eason of the LONDON TIMES. Van der Garde called for "new regulations to protect the rights of drivers" in a sport that has been transformed by the clamor of "pay" drivers "trying to get on to the grid to further their careers." The 29-year-old "had the resources to pursue Sauber through the International Court of Arbitration in Switzerland and then the Victoria Supreme Court." But other drivers "have been dumped in the past and not taken legal action against teams not upholding contracts." Van der Garde: "I sincerely hope that what has happened to me will start a movement aimed at setting new standards and bringing about new regulations to help protect the rights of drivers." The level of settlement "is unknown but will include substantial compensation" in addition to the return of Van der Garde's £6M ($8.9M) (LONDON TIMES, 3/18). The BBC reported Van der Garde dropped his legal action last week to allow Sauber to race at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix with drivers Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr. Sauber risked having its assets seized before Van der Garde "dropped his legal action," while Team Principal Monisha Kaltenborn had "faced the prospect of being arrested" (BBC, 3/18).
