Giedo van der Garde says he’s fit and ready to step back into the Sauber for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix following a legal ruling in is favour.
The Dutch driver looks set to return to the Swiss team, despite being dumped in favour of Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr, after Victoria’s Supreme Court sided with him in a legal battle with the team.
Speaking after the verdict was read out on Wednesday, he said: “I’m very fit and very strong. I’m looking forward to going back to the team and we’ll work hard to do our best for this weekend.
“I’m the fittest ever, I’ve been training the last three months flat out, and I’m looking forward to going back to the team. I had a very good relationship, I still have a very good relation with the team. I’m looking forward to racing this weekend.”
It’s not clear what Sauber will do, with team principal Monisha Kaltenborn suggesting it would be a safety concern to run the 29-year-old.
Meanwhile both Ericsson and Nasr have contracts to race, but Van der Garde isn’t concerned and is simply interested in racing again.
“It’s up to them what they are going to do [about Ericsson and Nasr], and up to the team. It’s not my thing.
“I’m happy that we won the case, and that we stand here. Now I’m looking forward to getting back to business.”
