Judge tells van der Garde, Sauber, to be 'sensible'

Mar.13 (GMM) The Giedo van der Garde saga will continue into yet another day on Saturday.

While Sauber race duo Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr finally took to the track in Melbourne, the local supreme court confirmed that Dutchman van der Garde's legal case will resume on Saturday morning.

The judge "urged (the) parties to have very sensible discussions," the court revealed.

Early on Friday, van der Garde had a seat fitting in the C34, but the atmosphere in the Sauber garage was icy, according to Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt.

He said that after the Dutchman finally managed to secure a guest paddock pass, the bulk of Sauber's mechanics walked out as a skeleton crew fitted his seat.

The driver's lawyer was busy telling the court that Sauber is actively blocking van der Garde "from getting a (super) licence to drive".

It comes amid rumours the van der Garde camp is in fact not trying to secure the Melbourne seat, but force Sauber's collapse so that his backers can invest.

So as court bailiffs waited outside the Albert Park paddock, van der Garde's lawyer urged the court to seize Sauber's race cars and equipment.

"Sauber will leave the jurisdiction on Monday and one of the orders we seek is sequestration today or tomorrow of the racing equipment," he confirmed.

However, Sauber's nominated drivers for Melbourne, Ericsson and Nasr, ventured onto the circuit for the second Friday practice session, having sat out P1.

Van der Garde's lawyer confirmed that "constructive discussions" have taken place late on Friday.