Driver profile: Giedo van der Garde

Giedo van der Garde forms one half of the second least experienced driver line-up on the grid - only Marussia's pairing have less experience than Caterham's.

The Dutchman owes his place in the team to the hefty sponsorship package he brings with him.

He has been on the fringes of F1 for some time - he was test and reserve driver for Super Aguri as long ago as 2007 and was the subject of a contract dispute between them and the Spyker (now Force India) team.

Van der Garde's stats and facts

  • Team: Caterham
  • Team-mate: Charles Pic
  • Born: 25/04/85, Rhenen
  • Nationality: Dutch

He has spent the past four years in GP2, winning a total of five races, and keen motorsport fans can find footage on YouTube of a titantic battle between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel over second place in a German Formula Three race - behind the leading Van Der Garde.

He will not be keeping such rarefied company with Caterham this year but neither is he likely to disgrace himself.