Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsSauber

Sauber and Sutil still at loggerheads

Sauber may be set for another legal showdown on the eve of the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona as its former driver Adrian Sutil looks set to initiate legal proceedings against the Swiss outfit.

The German driver, who was dropped by the team at the end of 2014 and is now Williams' acting reserve driver, is seeking to enforce his rights according to the terms of a contract apparently signed with Sauber for 2015, according to Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

One will recall that Sauber was confronted with a legal struggle earlier this season when Giedo van der Garde took the team to court just before the Australian Grand Prix, with both parties eventually reaching a settlement by mutual consent which resulted in a hefty compensation for the Dutchman.

Sutil's manager Manfred Zimmerman stated that indeed, a legal dispute with the Hinwill based team is ongoing, and that no solution has yet been found. Whether the grounds of Sutil's claims are identical to those which benefited van der Garde earlier this year, or whether Sauber plans on settling once again with its complainant, remains unclear.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.