Also F1 star Niki Lauda endorses Van der Garde

Posted on 13-03-2015 at 12:58 pm by sir_smokalot – 40 Comments”

In the Sauber-puppet show around ‘VdG’ everyone must have their say, so also Niki Lauda. The Austrian racelegende cross Giedo vd Garde is now also a heart under the belt.

Although in the Formula 1 opening weekend in Melbourne is only about racing, it must go, are the incidents which predominate. On the one hand there is the gevalletje Alonso, where McLaren everyone still ensures that there heuswaar nothing really wrong with Alonso, but more prominent is the Sauber-soap with our Dutch crowbar Giedo vd Garde. Niki Lauda thinks that apologies from Sauber in place and that they Giedo just have to race.

Now Lauda is anyway not known for his taciturnity (or tact), so it’s no surprise that he was there a ruling in the throws. He is aware of the damaged reputation of the sport and says: “now is Van der Garde up to 3 times in its law made by the court but still he has not driven for Sauber. I find that ms. Kaltenborn is located at Van der Garde should apologize and make him let you drive.”

Kaltenborn gets the full low

Sauber, in general, and Monisha Kaltenborn, in particular, suffer the most. Lauda sees it especially Kaltenborn to 3 (or 4?) riders under contract, while they know that there are only 2 seats. Him drive Giedo so just this weekend, with 3 court rulings.

But Lauda is certainly not the only, previously got several big names are already behind vdG. Check the following quotes, with thanks to bartw:

Nico Hulkenberg (Force India):
“Geido wants what he was promised and what he signed for, and I think also paid for, and it’s his right. I’m not surprised [Sauber is in this position]. They were desperate for money to survive but it’s not a way to do business and to screw people like this.”

Felipe Massa (Williams): “It shouldn’t be the way people treat drivers. They should respect drivers. It’s not fair when people treat you the way he has been treated. ’It doesn’t matter if you are a driver or an engineer. If there is a contract then that should be respected. Drivers should stand up for their rights, so I see it as a good thing for all drivers.”

Sergio Perez (Force India):
“We [the drivers] need to this work and this career, so it’s not fair when people are not treating you the way you have to be treated.”

Jenson Button (McLaren, about Saubers ‘safety claim’):
“For me it is a shame that they have gone in that direction, because safety is always a concern in motorsport and we shouldn’t be throwing it around lightly. Personally, him driving the car is not a safety issue. I think it is unfair to use that against Giedo.”

Paul Stoddard:
“Monisha had as a lawyer have to see. It’s not Ericsson’s fault, it is not Nasrs error, and it is also not really van der Gardes error.

Regardless of the outcome seems to be the issue vdG is a precedent-operation in the future to have, just like the Bosman ruling for football did. Or that we are all now also with the hooivorken and torches to Kaltenborns domicile Küsnacht? There is no one to wait, we guess that the uikomst also now to the satisfaction of Van der Garde.

Photo: Niki Lauda, when he vdG’s age had.
Thanks to Wo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0dy for the tip!