Dutch driver Giedo van der Garde recognised his hopes of racing in Formula One were over on Wednesday after Sauber paid "significant compensation" to end a contract dispute.
“We have reached a settlement with Sauber and my driver contract with the team has been ended by mutual consent. As a passionate race driver I feel sad and am very disappointed,” he said in a statement.
The 29-year-old was Sauber’s reserve last season and had a deal to race in 2015. However, the Swiss team signed Brazilian rookie Felipe Nasr and Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson instead.
Van der Garde said he had always dreamed of becoming a top-notch driver but “I know my future in Formula One is probably over”.
Legal action to enforce the contract culminated in a Melbourne court finding in his favour ahead of last weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
“My sponsors paid the sponsorship fee related to the 2015 season in its entirety to Sauber in the first half of 2014. This was simply in good faith and to help the team deal with its cash problems at the time,” he said on Wednesday.
“Effectively it was my sponsor’s advanced payments that helped the team survive in 2014 ... I am not at liberty to discuss details but Sauber paid significant compensation to avoid honouring the contract they had with me.”
Although he won the legal argument he dropped a contempt action pending further talks when it became apparent team principal Monisha Kaltenborn was determined not to let him race.
“To push on against this determination might have brought down the team, it would most certainly have wrecked the opening Grand Prix in Melbourne because the team’s cars would have been seized by the court,” said Van der Garde.
“It may have ruined the careers of two young drivers ... possibly the team’s directors would even be taken into custody. I decided I did not want to live with that idea.”
He thanked other drivers for their support and hoped his actions would change attitudes.
“I sincerely hope that what has happened to me will start a movement aimed at setting new standards and bringing about new regulations to help protect the rights of drivers,” said Van der Garde.
“There are numerous examples of talented drivers with good intentions, but without the sort of professional support that I have had, who have been broken by Formula One and who have seen their careers destroyed.”
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THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
Fixtures
Wednesday
4.15pm: Japan v Spain (Group A)
5.30pm: UAE v Italy (Group A)
6.45pm: Russia v Mexico (Group B)
8pm: Iran v Egypt (Group B)
Manchester United v Liverpool
Premier League, kick off 7.30pm (UAE)
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
TV (UAE time);
OSN Sports: from 10am
If you go
- The nearest international airport to the start of the Chuysky Trakt is in Novosibirsk. Emirates (www.emirates.com) offer codeshare flights with S7 Airlines (www.s7.ru) via Moscow for US$5,300 (Dh19,467) return including taxes. Cheaper flights are available on Flydubai and Air Astana or Aeroflot combination, flying via Astana in Kazakhstan or Moscow. Economy class tickets are available for US$650 (Dh2,400).
- The Double Tree by Hilton in Novosibirsk ( 7 383 2230100,) has double rooms from US$60 (Dh220). You can rent cabins at camp grounds or rooms in guesthouses in the towns for around US$25 (Dh90).
- The transport Minibuses run along the Chuysky Trakt but if you want to stop for sightseeing, hire a taxi from Gorno-Altaisk for about US$100 (Dh360) a day. Take a Russian phrasebook or download a translation app. Tour companies such as Altair-Tour ( 7 383 2125115 ) offer hiking and adventure packages.
if you go
The flights
Emirates fly direct from Dubai to Houston, Texas, where United have direct flights to Managua. Alternatively, from October, Iberia will offer connections from Madrid, which can be reached by both Etihad from Abu Dhabi and Emirates from Dubai.
The trip
Geodyssey’s (Geodyssey.co.uk) 15-night Nicaragua Odyssey visits the colonial cities of Leon and Granada, lively country villages, the lake island of Ometepe and a stunning array of landscapes, with wildlife, history, creative crafts and more. From Dh18,500 per person, based on two sharing, including transfers and tours but excluding international flights. For more information, visit visitnicaragua.us.
