Verdict delayed in Giedo van der Garde, Sauber F1 team contract row

Van der Garde has taken Sauber to court to enforce a contract that he believes gives him the right to drive for the Swiss F1 team in 2015.

Sauber insists, however, that it was within its rights to sign Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr amid an increasingly difficult financial situation last year.

The matter was heard by the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne on Monday morning, with van der Garde appearing in person.

Sauber's lawyer even argued at one point that handing van der Garde a seat for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix would have huge safety implications because he had not tested the car.

Local media quoted Rodney Garratt QC as saying: "Sauber could not allow him to race... it would be reckless and dangerous to do otherwise. It would result in an unacceptable risk of physical harm or even death."

Van der Garde's lawyer did not accept Sauber's argument and said that there had been occasions in the past when drivers had been put in cars at short notice with no testing.

"Teams are very flexible to make adjustments for every specific driver," said Tom Clarke.

He also made it clear that there was no legal reason why Ericsson and Nasr, who also appeared in court, could not be replaced this weekend.

"Sauber does have the ability to substitute Mr Van der Garde this weekend for one or another driver without falling into breach of those existing contracts," he explained.

The hearing was adjourned on Monday. A later statement issued on Twitter by the court authorities said the matter would not be resolved for another 48 hours.

"Judgment reserved in F1 driver Giedo van der Garde dispute against Sauber, to Weds 10am," it said.