Not even Formula One can speed up the wheels of justice.
Lawyers for Giedo van der Garde, and his F1 team Sauber, returned to a Melbourne court on Friday where they asked for more time to put their case for and against the dumped driver.
The judge adjourned the case to a special sitting on Saturday morning - outside of ordinary court hours when there will be just 30 hours to the start of Australia's F1 Grand Prix.
"The court has bent over backwards to accommodate this proceeding," Justice Clyde Croft told the lawyers late on Friday, noting it has gone before the Victorian Supreme Court, an appeal court and now a further contempt of court proceeding.
"... (but) clearly a lot is at stake."
Sauber does not want van der Garde to drive one of its F1 car's in Sunday's race, though it is yet to have the court rule in its favour.
The 29-year-old Dutchman wants to drive, is contracted to do so, though Sauber has repeatedly argued there's not enough time to fit him to a special race seat or to obtain the necessary license.
"He says he is ready, willing and able to participate in the race for Sauber, safely," van der Garde's lawyer Jim Peters QC told the court.
"... We want compliance with the orders."
Rodney Garrett QC, for Sauber, said team officials had been tied up with Friday's practise session and "I'd ask for more time".
The lawyers agreed to hold talks overnight, and said there were areas of common ground, but the case would be back before the court at 9.30am on Saturday.
When Van der Garde arrived at the track on Friday his swipe pass initially denied him entry.
He was then seen outside his team garage in Marcus Ericsson's race suit, fuelling speculation he may take the Swede's position in the race.
Sauber's two cars remained in the garage for the first practise period, but drivers Ericsson and Felipe Nasr took to the track for the second session.
During practice, Ericsson suffered a suspension problem and failed to complete the session.
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