Sauber a no-show for first practice

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Giedo van der Garde of Netherlands and Sauber F1 works in the team garage during practice for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park on March 13, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Giedo van der Garde of Netherlands and Sauber F1 works in the team garage during practice for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park on March 13, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Published Mar 13, 2015

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Melbourne - Sauber missed the opening practice for the Australian Grand Prix on Friday as a legal fight over its driving line-up dragged on in the Melbourne courts. The Swiss team's cars remained in the garage during the 90-minute session at Albert Park, as a contempt of court hearing was adjourned.

Sauber lost an appeal on Thursday against a court ruling ordering it to honour a deal with Giedo van der Garde and let him to drive for them in Melbourne. But the financially strapped team has also signed contracts with the heavily sponsored Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr, leaving them in a calamitous position at the season-opener.

Ericsson and Nasr were both listed on the boards as Sauber's drivers on Friday, but Van der Garde was also seen at the track in his racing overalls.

CONTEMPT OF COURT

Van der Garde's lawyers were pursuing a contempt of court action in an attempt to force Sauber to comply with the earlier ruling. The team was ordered to hand over a list of assets on Friday in a hearing which was adjourned until 3.15pm. A statement later said both parties had sought a further adjournment, without giving details.

Van der Garde claimed Sauber reneged on an agreement that he would race for them this season when they opted for Nasr and Ericsson instead. He originally won his complaint at a Swiss arbitration tribunal and on Wednesday Justice Clyde Croft backed the ruling, enforcing it in Australia.

Van der Garde's lawyer Jim Peters has said Sauber had made no effort to reinstate his client, and sought to seize the team's cars to force it to comply with the court's ruling.

AFP

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