Lawyers representing Dutch Formula 1 driver Giedo van der Garde have asked the Supreme Court of Victoria to imprison Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn.
There is an ongoing legal case between Van der Garde and Sauber over contractual matters relating to a 2015 race seat he was promised.
The court has so far ruled in favour of Van der Garde, but due to the lack of a superlicence, he is unable to take part in the Australian Grand Prix this weekend.
However his lawyers are blaming Sauber and Kaltenborn for the lack of a superlicence as they have failed to report to the Contracts Recognition Board (CRB) that his contract is in fact valid, as per the court ruling, meaning Van der Garde is unable to obtain the required licence.
That, according to the 29-year-old’s legal team, is contempt by Kaltenborn which is punishable by imprisonment or by the way of a fine.
“[We demand] that Monisha Kaltenborn-Narang be punished for the contempt committed by Sauber Motorsport AG, by committal to prison for the period to be determined by Court or, in the alternative, by a fine of an amount to be fixed by the Court,” read a court summons.
They have also demanded that legal representatives of Van der Garde be “appointed sequestrators of all real and personal estate of Sauber Motorsport AG situated in the State of Victoria” – effectively putting them in charge of Sauber’s assets.
Sauber, as requested, have provided a list of all assets currently within the paddock. A team of bailiff’s have been mobilised in the event that the court decides Sauber are in contempt of the court order, which could effectively see the team unable to race this weekend.