Van der Garde’s Spa paddock appearance draws attention
Giedo van der Garde’s return to the Formula One paddock at Spa-Francorchamps prompted speculation about his future, but the Dutchman insists his focus is now on DTM.
Giedo van der Garde’s arrival in the paddock at the 2015 Belgian Grand Prix caused a ripple among teams and observers, marking his first visit since his legal dispute with Sauber earlier that year. The Dutch driver announced his presence on social media, jokingly telling Sauber not to panic and clarifying he only had meetings scheduled.
Entry to the paddock was not straightforward. Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that Bernie Ecclestone had advised teams not to provide van der Garde with a pass. Ultimately, Mercedes arranged a guest pass, allowing him access for meetings during the race weekend.
Speculation over Manor link denied
Van der Garde’s presence prompted immediate speculation about a possible return to Formula One, particularly with Manor still seeking a paying driver to replace Roberto Merhi. However, a Manor source stated that no offer had been made to van der Garde, and there was no deal under discussion. This mirrors the wider uncertainty around the second Manor seat, with several candidates linked to the drive. For more on Manor’s driver situation, seecandidates-line-up-for-second-manor-seat
No F1 return planned, focus shifts to DTM
Although van der Garde confirmed a meeting with Mercedes and described the conversation as positive, he reiterated that Formula One is no longer his objective. He described F1 as a “closed book” and said his priority is now the DTM, Germany’s leading touring car series, where he aims to compete for wins and championships. The visit to Spa, he said, was for meetings rather than any attempt to secure a race seat.
