Sauber F1 Team 2015

[Per]

Appeal hearing is taking place, Sauber is getting smashed by the looks of it. Some tweets by reporter Kate Jones:

* Judges ask Sauber why it hasn't challenged Swiss court's order allowing van der Garde to drive until now, when it's almost too late.
* Judge asks Sauber lawyer: "You have a contract. Why don't you just comply with it?" Clearly some frustration from the bench.
* Sauber's lawyer interprets order as only applying within Australia. Wouldn't affect rest of F1 season elsewhere. Judges disagree.
* Sauber says best option would be to go back to Swiss arbitrator and get new order. That seems inevitable. It's a mess as it is. [Per: tadaa, what a surprise]
* Sauber statement from Dec 3 said 'teams are flexible' & 'driver-specific changes are done quickly.' Lawyer now insists 2 wks for seat.

And by Adam Cooper:

* Judge tells @SauberF1Team "The point is you agreed to do something and that's what you should be doing..."
* Exasperated judges keep asking @SauberF1Team why all the preparations for @GvanderGarde to drive were not done earlier...
* Judges keen to point out that @GvanderGarde won the first judgement against @SauberF1Team on Dec 3 and team has had plenty of warning
* Have to say it's a stream of nonsense from @SauberF1Team lawyer. Judges don't seem to be buying it


This is not just painful, it is even inconceivable that Sauber is putting up a case like this.

Also, first time I learn that there was already a ruling on 3 December. That's a good answer to those who were saying that GvdG waited unnecessarily long to start procedures. Also we learn that Sauber is contradicting itself (Kate Jones's last tweet).

[Slife]

Appeal hearing is taking place, Sauber is getting smashed by the looks of it. Some tweets by reporter Kate Jones:


Also, first time I learn that there was already a ruling on 3 December. That's a good answer to those who were saying that GvdG waited unnecessarily long to start procedures. Also we learn that Sauber is contradicting itself (Kate Jones's last tweet).

I think Nasr and Ericsson, were signed on during the first week of November. The ruling may have come out on the 3rd, but perhaps vdG sent his complaint earlier. Either way, is one month really that long anyway ?

[Per]

Not long at all, that's my point. I saw some people questioning GvdG's intentions because he had waited until early March before going to court, but this turns out to be untrue. It is yet another amazing thing, Sauber have had 3 months to prepare all this and still they come without having made any provisions for GvdG (OK, that was obviously on purpose - the rotting strategy) and with a bucketful of nonsensical arguments.

[turbof1]

This is getting quite humiliating for Sauber. Judge to Ericsonn/Nasr lawyer: 2 seats for 3 drivers. Which contract should Sauber breach?

I hate to say it, but Sauber's only mentionable 'defense' this far were a couple of hidden lies about the super license and how quick a driver can be set up to drive. It does not look good. Sauber would have been much better off telling the truth.

[Slife]

Not long at all, that's my point. I saw some people questioning GvdG's intentions because he had waited until early March before going to court, but this turns out to be untrue. It is yet another amazing thing, Sauber have had 3 months to prepare all this and still they come without having made any provisions for GvdG (OK, that was obviously on purpose - the rotting strategy) and with a bucketful of nonsensical arguments.

Well GvdG can't really complain about being denied a seat until Sauber actually does deny him a seat (aka when the GP starts), if anything GvdG is quite generous in bringing this up before the F1 season starts.

[turbof1]

Apperently Kaltenborn terminated vd Garde's contract after the original arbitration in Switzerland. Wow... .

[Per]

I think you misread one of Adam Cooper's tweets there. Here's the tweet: "VDG lawyer says Monisha K wrote to Contract Recognition Board on 4/3/15 saying VDG contract had been terminated on 6/2/15..."

So if all this is true, the contract was terminated well before the arbitration hearing, but Sauber didn't inform the FIA about that until after the hearing. It remains unclear to me what implications this has.

[turbof1]

I think you misread one of Adam Cooper's tweets there. Here's the tweet: "VDG lawyer says Monisha K wrote to Contract Recognition Board on 4/3/15 saying VDG contract had been terminated on 6/2/15..."

So if all this is true, the contract was terminated well before the arbitration hearing, but Sauber didn't inform the FIA about that until after the hearing. It remains unclear to me what implications this has.

No because the first verdict dates back to december the 3th. They effectively have kept this hidden from the world all this time.
Vd Garde's lawyer is also explicitly stating that now.

I have to say that's fair play from vd Garde. He kept this discrete as long as he realistically could.

EDIT: well now, that starts to look interesting. Vd Garde's lawyer stating no legal action will be taken against Nasr/Ericsonn if the latter 2 deprive Giedo from the seat. Implying perhaps Sauber will be able to ignore the court's order anyhow?

Court verdict is certain now anyhow.

[r_b_l]

EDIT: well now, that starts to look interesting. Vd Garde's lawyer stating no legal action will be taken against Nasr/Ericsonn if the latter 2 deprive Giedo from the seat. Implying perhaps Sauber will be able to ignore the court's order anyhow?

I think he is trying to specifically target Sauber, not the other two drivers. So if they Ignore it, he can still claim damages from the Team.

[turbof1]

Yes, but the bigger point is whether or not vd Garde can force Sauber to keep their cars in the pitbox as long as Sauber does not forfill the verdict.

At this point Sauber would love nothing more then verdict to pay damages. That would get them completely rid of the whole case.

[Richard]

If Sauber ignore this then they'll get hit even harder for deliberately sabotaging any chance of VDG getting in the car.
https://twitter.com/Kate_Jones7/status/ ... 5466355712 https://twitter.com/adamcooperF1/status ... 5914984448

[Richard]

Eh? What's this? A completely new line of defence from Sauber ....
https://twitter.com/adamcooperF1/status ... 6411361280

[turbof1]

Verdict is going to be tommorow at 0930h. That's not enough time to make a seat for him for FP1, if they wait for the verdict.

Edit: sorry, it'll be 1630 today.

[r_b_l]

Ha i think someone must have told the lawyers 9:30 tomorrow will be too late.

Even this afternoon is pushing the time limit.

[Slife]

Do they have a date on when the alleged breach of confidentiality happened ?