Giedo van der Garde has dropped his legal action against Sauber, clearing the way for the team to race with their current drivers in this weekend’s Australian GP.
The Dutchman, who served as Sauber’s reserve driver in 2014, earlier this week won an initial case against the team after an Australian judge agreed that van der Garde did have a contractual right to race for them this season.
Van der Garde’s lawyers subsequently filed a Contempt of Court Application against Sauber and team boss Monisha Kaltenborn with the court then issuing a summons to Sauber which warned that their equipment in the Melbourne paddock could be seized if they didn't comply with the ruling.
However, following overnight talks between the two sides, van der Garde’s lawyers informed the court on Saturday morning that they were withdrawing their contempt action after an agreement had been reached. No details of the terms were given, with van der Garde saying that talks will continue into next week.
“With respect to the interest of motorsport, and F1 in particular, I have decided to give up my legal rights to race this weekend at the Melbourne Grand Prix,” van der Garde said in a post on his Facebook page.
“As I am a passionate race driver this decision has been very difficult for me. However I also wish to respect the interest of the FIA, Sauber Motorsport, as well as Nasr and Ericsson.
“My management will continue talks with Sauber early next week to find a mutually acceptable solution for the current situation that has now arisen.
“I am confident such solution will be found and I will inform the media once done.”
After Sauber had seen their appeal against the Supreme Court's ruling thrown out on Thursday, van der Garde arrived in the Albert Park paddock ahead of practice on Friday and was briefly seen in the team's overalls while he completed a seat fitting.
However, the Dutchman had yet to receive a superlicence to take part, and after sitting out first practice entirely, Sauber took to the track in the afternoon with their confirmed driver pairing of Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson behind the wheels of the two C34s.
"The Sauber F1 Team can confirm it has been able to agree with Mr. Giedo Van der Garde that he refrains from driving in the Australian Formula One Grand Prix so it can keep its original planning," Sauber said in a separate statement.
"The Sauber F1 Team, Mr. Van der Garde and his management will continue to have constructive talks in order to find a mutually acceptable solution. The Sauber F1 Team is here to race in the Australian Formula One Grand Prix and that is what the team is now focusing on. In the course of next week we will be able to give more information."