Sauber loses appeal & Perez backs van der Garde

Sergio Pérez has sided with Giedo van der Garde over his legal dispute with Sauber.

Dutchman van der Garde's court battle with Sauber has been criticised in some quarters for endangering the very survival of the already struggling team.

Melbourne's Age newspaper claims the Hinwil camp, having now lost its appeal against van der Garde's successful case in the Melbourne courts, has threatened to pull out of the Australian grand prix altogether over the saga.

But Mexican Perez, who drives for Force India, sided with the driver.

"It shouldn't be the way people should be treating drivers," he told reporters on Thursday. "They should respect drivers.

"We need this work and this career, so it's not fair when people are not treating you the way you should be treated."

Felipe Massa, meanwhile, made his debut for Sauber in 2002 and admitted it was an unseemly situation on the eve of the new world championship.

"Formula one is not in the best moment compared to what we saw in the past and then you see this situation. It's not nice," said the Brazilian.

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