Breaking news
Formula 1
Lauda apologises for calling Ferrari car 'sh*t'
Niki Lauda has swiftly hit reverse, after using an expletive to describe the cars fielded in 2014 by Mercedes' grandee rivals McLaren and Ferrari.
GMM
Edited: Jul 23, 2014, 7:16 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
"McLaren has the same engine as us and the car is sh*t," Mercedes' F1 chairman had told the Spanish newspaper El Pais.
"The same with Ferrari -- another sh*t car," the former Ferrari champion added.
Ferrari has weaknesses on both sides.
Niki Lauda
After the publication of his blunt assessment, Lauda has now apologised privately and publicly to Ferrari.
"I apologise to Ferrari, to Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, and to the Italian fans. I should not have used that word," the great Austrian told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I was wrong and I do not make excuses. I called the president to explain my dismay," Lauda added.
"I have not seen the interview in the Spanish daily, but I was too heavy with my words - forgive me."
Lauda also told the German newspaper Bild: "I explained to him (Montezemolo) and he understood. We have known each other for so long.
"I was asked a question about the difference between Mercedes and McLaren and Ferrari.
"I explained that Mercedes is simply the best combination of good car with the best engine, that McLaren also has the best engine but the car is not so good.
"And Ferrari has weaknesses on both sides," he added.
But Lauda made a point of saying Mercedes continues to regard Ferrari as a worthy opponent, particularly ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.
"I am even worried about the Ferraris in Budapest," he said, "because they have come much closer to us in the last races.
"Also Red Bull, who have a perfect car and only problems with the engine. But at the right moment also Ferrari can catch us on the wrong foot, as they are more dangerous than we thought before," Lauda insisted.
Also in the pages of La Gazzetta, Lauda made clear he actually does not regard Ferrari as having produced merely a "sh*t car".
"I have noticed at Hockenheim a Ferrari in progress," he said, "and I'm amused to see Fernando Alonso in the duels he has been in.
"I hope Kimi Raikkonen can recover, as he is a champion in a position that he does not belong."
As for Mercedes, Lauda sees the outcome of the 2014 championship as a straight fight between teammates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.
"Lewis was unlucky at Hockenheim but drove a great race anyway, while Nico had obviously an easier time and won.
"The championship will be decided by the alternating fortunes and misfortunes of our two drivers. But the others are approaching and I understand that Ferrari will soon be very dangerous for everyone, starting with us," he added.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Confirmed: Formula One set for Mexico in 2015
Next article Ferrari F1 dream 'just a cliche' - Ricciardo
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Lewis Hamilton
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
More from
Ferrari
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brazilian GP
2 h
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Latest news
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 1 min
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
David Alonso lashes out at Dani Holgado: "When you’re not a good person, there’s nothing you can do"
Moto2
MOT2 Moto2
Phillip Island
2 min
David Alonso lashes out at Dani Holgado: "When you’re not a good person, there’s nothing you can do"
Super Formula Leader Kaku Ohta targets North American move across IndyCar and IMSA for 2027
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 3 min
Super Formula Leader Kaku Ohta targets North American move across IndyCar and IMSA for 2027
Spire says Joe Gibbs Racing now seeking nearly $150M in damages
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 27 min
Spire says Joe Gibbs Racing now seeking nearly $150M in damages
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe