Sauber's lawyers say death risk for Giedo van der Garde too high in Melbourne Grand Prix

The risk of putting Giedo van der Garde behind the wheel of a car he isn't fitted to drive presents too great a risk for the driver, his Swiss team's lawyers say. 

Formula One team Sauber is in the midst of a Melbourne court battle to keep Van de Garde from driving the c34 Ferrari in this weekend's Melbourne Grand Prix, saying that his death risk is too high, according to The Associated Press.

"Mr. van der Garde has no experience driving the c34 Ferrari and would not have sufficient time to learn," Sauber lawyer Rodney Garratt told the international arbitration court.

The Dutch driver has yet to go through the two-week custom seat-fitting process, nor has he even trained in the car. But Van der Garde's lawyer, Tom Clarke, made reference to a 2012 case where an F1 driver was in a similar situation, and an emergency ruling put him behind the wheel three days prior to a race.

But unlike that team, Sauber is unwilling to budge on its stance. 

"Teams are very flexible to make adjustments for every specific driver," Clarke said. "Sauber does have the ability to substitute Mr. van der Garde this weekend for one or another driver without falling into breach of those existing contracts."

A judge's decision is expected to come down at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. 

Practice sessions for the Grand Prix begin Friday.