Giedo van der Garde

Giedo van der Garde is a Dutch former racing driver who competed in Formula 1 for Caterham in 2013 before becoming central to one of the sport's most high-profile contract disputes with Sauber in 2015.

Giedo van der Garde won the 2008 Formula Renault 3.5 Series title and made 19 Formula 1 starts with Caterham in 2013, but is perhaps best remembered for successfully suing Sauber in an Australian court days before the 2015 season opener after the team broke a contract that he argued guaranteed him a race seat. He progressed through Formula Renault and Formula 3 as part of the Renault Driver Development and McLaren Young Driver programmes, winning the 2008 Formula Renault 3.5 Series title, and spent four seasons in GP2, finishing a career-best fourth overall in 2011. Van der Garde was named Caterham's race driver for the 2013 Formula One season after prior reserve and testing roles with Super Aguri, Spyker, and the team itself, making his debut at the Australian Grand Prix. Driving an uncompetitive car, he recorded a best finish of 14th at the Hungarian Grand Prix and achieved Caterham's best-ever qualifying position at Monaco, but was not retained for 2014. Van der Garde signed with Sauber as a reserve and test driver for 2015, believing his contract guaranteed a race seat, but the team fielded Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson instead. He successfully sued Sauber in the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia, days before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, but the dispute was ultimately settled out of court without him racing. He shifted to sports car racing, winning the European Le Mans Series championship in 2016 and competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans through the early 2020s, later becoming a broadcaster for Viaplay.

Consistent, technically sound driver who performed above expectations in uncompetitive machinery

Remembered as much for his landmark contract dispute with Sauber as for his brief F1 career, before finding success in endurance racing

• 2002 Karting World Championship (Super A class)
• 2008 Formula Renault 3.5 Series champion
• European Le Mans Series champion (2016)
• 24 Hours of Le Mans class competitor