Sauber lost their appeal yesterday against a court verdict that ruled in favour of Dutchman Giedo van der Garde’s bid to drive for them and came under fire from rival drivers.

Sauber appealed after an Australian court upheld a Swiss tribunal’s decision ordering the team to refrain from taking action to deprive Van der Garde from racing for them.

A test driver for Sauber last year, Van der Garde had accused the Swiss team of reneging on a deal to give him a race seat after they signed Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson and Brazilian Felipe Nasr as their two race-day drivers.

The Court of Appeals in Melbourne dismissed Sauber’s appeal and ordered them to pay the driver’s legal costs, throwing the team’s preparations for Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix into confusion.

Van der Garde’s legal representative promptly launched a contempt of court action against Sauber late yesterday, saying the team had made no effort to bring in the driver.

Despite that, and for the second time in two days, Van der Garde told reporters outside Melbourne’s Supreme Court of Victoria state that he was looking forward to racing with the team.

“I’m hopeful of racing, I’m fit, I’m ready,” he said. “Of course I want to race, it’s my life, I’ve been racing from nine years old, I’m good at it, so you’re passionate about it.”