Sauber team owner and founder Peter Sauber has backed team principal and co-owner Monisha Kaltenborn amid the ongoing legal battle with driver Giedo van der Garde.
The situation almost hit breaking point when the Australian court ruled in Van der Garde’s favour, forcing Sauber to run him during the race weekend and threatening to impound the team’s assets.
However Saturday morning negotiations halted the legal battle, but questions over Kaltenborn’s future began to grow and when asked if she would steo aside, she simply responded by saying “no”.
Peter Sauber is fully supportive of her decision despite the impact it could have on the team if the legal drama kicks off again in Malaysia.
“Without Monisha Kaltenborn there would be no Sauber,” he told the Blick newspaper on Sunday following the Australian Grand Prix where the Swiss team jumped to third in the Constructors’ standings.
“I would not have bought the team back [from BMW] six years ago if she had not declared her willingness to participate,” he told Neue Zercher Zeitung.
“It was a joint decision and for me I was very, very lucky to have her in this position,” he added. “Many other teams in the paddock would also be very lucky to have this woman.”
