Herr Lauda, a man I admired almost to the Level of Muhammad Ali, has been letting himself down a little recently and perhaps it is time for Toto Wolff to tell him to shut up.
First there was the ridiculous and in my opinion, dishonest claim that the Barcelona incident was all the fault of Hamilton, can Lauda really have believed that or was he just out to undermine Hamilton?
Now this....
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Lauda+says+Hamilton+lied
If drivers are disciplined after a series of mistakes why shouldn't executives be?
I can only imagine that Lauda is very interested in a German World Champion this year and won't be too bothered if the truth becomes a victim during the campaign.
Very disappointing behaviour. If it is all genuine "mistakes" Lauda's judgement is becoming questionable, in my opinion.
A story during the first practice session today was that Ferrari are interested in Hamilton.
I wouldn't be the least surprised. As Anthony Davidson said, "Drivers are not light bulbs, you don't just unplug them and plug another one in".
Mercedes could find the power of Ferrari significantly increased with a line up of Hamilton and Vettel.
No matter who is "waiting in the wings" Hamilton will be a difficult man to replace.
Time Mercedes disciplined Lauda?
posted on 8/7/16
Niki has lost his marbles IMO.
He's a mascot, nothing more.
posted on 8/7/16
Irishgreen
But he is, if the reports are true, damaging the Mercedes reputation through what seems to be blatant attempts to discredit Hamilton and should be stopped from doing it, IMO.
A great shame, I really admired his taking on the Austrian government for LaudaAir and the way he both challenged and yet still kept friends with Enzo, to say nothing of his recovery from the Nurburgring '76 shunt..
This now is almost childish and stupid, if it is all true.
Mercedes should step in. If they haven't already, of course.....
I would like to see Channel4 or Sky interview Lauda over these events.
Hamilton himself has said "the damage is done".
If the management are being deceitful about the "employees" why do they think they have the right to demand honesty from the "employees"?
I particularly want explained why when Rosberg made a mistake in Spain and then used his car as a weapon to keep the team-mate who hadn't made a mistake behind him, forcing him off the track and causing a crash that took the whole team out of the race is "Hamilton's fault".
The logic of that is inexplicable. Perhaps Lauda has re-thought it?
Probably not.....
posted on 8/7/16
Damage limitation has started POB.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/125161
Laughable.
posted on 8/7/16
I can't believe you're blowing my comments out of proportion, and not considering the casual context in which they were made.
posted on 8/7/16
".. casual context..."
Wow, how do you casually call somebody a liar?
I agree, laughable indeed. I suppose with revolution and unrest in the driver camp the last think Mercedes want to do now is show the same from the "management team".
posted on 8/7/16
Like yourself POB I had the greatest of respect for Lauda as a driver and a man. Now though, I think he should just wave the Mercedes flag and stop giving 'team' interviews.
That's Toto's job.
In other words, shut up Niki.
posted on 9/7/16
Lauda not looking too chuffed with Hamilton recovering that!
posted on 9/7/16
Thought about this too, the guy has to be muzzled
His behaviour needs to be controlled
Still cannot understand how Nico got away with what he did in Barcelona
posted on 10/7/16
Is there a bonus from Mercedes to the management this season for a German World Champion?
I seem to recall when Hamilton won brilliantly (and with a little luck too) at Monaco and Wolff was interviewed at some point after the race he claimed the pit wall strategist had won the race!
"Here is the man who won for us today..." or words to that effect. I have looked through some video but can't find it again.
I thought at the time it was an unusual, almost insulting, comment to make.
Lauda was rather downbeat about Hamilton's pole, all of the media are avoiding the remarks he made but it is like an elephant in the room.
I think Hamilton's, "the damage is done" is telling. In that interview he confirmed he had not spoken to Lauda about it.
In FP3 I think it was, they were shown together in the pit, Hamilton chewing, Lauda looking somewhere else, a vision of harmony it was not.
posted on 10/7/16
Mercedes did nothing to help Hamilton in Baku, over a considerable period of time, "No, Lewis, we can't tell you that, it's against the rules".
They waded in pretty quick today to help Nico though!
Has justice has been done with a penalty? Perhaps he wouldn't have finished without the help