18 Mar 2015

Garde camp set to outline Sauber deal?

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<b>CAUGHT AT COURT:</b> Dutch Formula 1 driver Giedo van der Garde (centre) and his lawyers arrive at court in Melbourne on March 11 2015 where a judge gave him the right to a drive. <i>Image: AFP / Mal Fairclough</i>

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands - The Giedo van der Garde camp could be about to issue details of a compensation package agreed with the Sauber Formula 1 team for the driver's lost drive in Melbourne.

The battle between the Dutch driver and his backers and the struggling Swiss team was fought in a Melbourne court but suddenly ended before qualifying for the 2015 season-opener.

Some sensed the intervening hand of Bernie Ecclestone, others looked to the deep pockets of Peter Sauber, or Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson's concerned backers.

R185-MILLION PAY-OUT?

Another rumour was that Van der Garde's main backer, billionaire father-in-law Marcel Boekhoorn, would end up owning a stake in the 22-year-old F1 team.

Dutch media reports on Tuesday suggested the financial compensation package amounted to the equivalent of about R185-million - the full cost of Van der Garde's 2014-2015 contract, plus legal costs.

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