Lauda hits out at other team bosses

Jaguar principal Niki Lauda has had a few less than complimentary things to say about his fellow Formula One team bosses recently. The former champion was scathing in his remarks, as quoted in the British press, about others' lavish spending habits ...

Jaguar principal Niki Lauda has had a few less than complimentary things to say about his fellow Formula One team bosses recently. The former champion was scathing in his remarks, as quoted in the British press, about others' lavish spending habits and lack of team performance. However, those on the receiving end of his comments laughed them off as sour grapes and say Lauda should concentrate on Jaguar's problems.

Niki Lauda.

Photo by Jaguar Racing.

"Eddie Jordan, who has sold 40 per cent of his Jordan team for twenty million, (pounds) prefers collecting extortionately expensive yachts instead of looking after his F1 team," said Lauda. He also hinted Arrows' boss Tom Walkinshaw was less than scrupulous in his dealings: "Everyone knows how Tom makes his deals. No need to say more."

Eddie Jordan dismissed the comments as Lauda trying to detract from Jaguar's less than brilliant performance: "Niki is obviously having a go at others to deflect from his own poor showing on the track," he said. "He has more resources at his disposal than the entire bottom half of the grid and yet he has only scored three points this season. He should concentrate on his own job and not worry about other teams."

McLaren's Ron Dennis did not escape the three-time champion's attention either: "Ron has always claimed he didn't need a Schumacher because his team was easily good enough without him," Lauda commented. "Well this idea has ended up in smoke where it belongs."

The Austrian also described Minardi as 'cheapjack racers' but principal Paul Stoddart laughed off the remark: "Our 'cheapjack racers' have performed as well as Niki's team who have a $150million budget," he pointed out.