Court: Sauber must give seat to Giedo van der Garde
A court has ruled Giedo van der Garde must be allowed to race this season for Sauber.
The decision Wednesday means Van der Garde could be back on the track as early as Sunday's Australian Grand Prix.
Huge local and international press contingent @SCVSupremeCourt pic.twitter.com/Hl0rQSfU5j
— Peta Carlyon (@peta_carlyon) March 10, 2015
Van der Garde had asked Australia's Supreme Court of Victoria to back a ruling by the Arbitration Institution in Switzerland that Sauber honor an offer made to the Dutch driver for the 2015 season.
Van der Garde, who previously served as Sauber's test driver last season, said Sauber made the offer last June.
The ruling means either Marcus Ericsson or Felipe Nasr will be on the sidelines in Melbourne.
"We are disappointed with this decision and now need to take time to understand what it means and the impact it will have on the start of our season," said Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn, according to ESPN.
"What we cannot do is jeopardise the safety of our team, or any other driver on the track, by having an unprepared driver in a car that has now been tailored to two other assigned drivers."
Sauber had previously argued it would be dangerous to put Van der Garde in its car so close to the race, but that was dismissed by Justice Clyde Croft.
The 29-year-old made his debut as an F1 driver with the now-defunct Caterham in 2013.