Lauda Defends Schumacher's Driving Tactics

Triple World Champion Niki Lauda has defended the aggressive tactics used by Michael Schumacher to defend his position, saying that similar things occurred when he was racing.

Lauda says that improved television coverage is to blame for the criticism of tactics that have been used for many years.

"The problem today is television," said Lauda. "The TV coverage is done so well, there are so many cameras now, you can see what everybody is doing.

"In my day we used to hit each other off the road but if somebody complained afterwards, we'd just say, 'I don't know what happened'. Now you cannot really do that.

"What Schumacher did and what Coulthard did was just human reaction and I can fully understand it.

"If you are on pole position and make a bad start you think you'd better move over to defend your position.

"People complained but it is part of the show of Formula One and I don't think that FIA should interfere.

"If they do and make things more strict then in the end there will be less action and the sport will get more boring."

Lauda also expressed ideas on how to bring overtaking back to Formula One, making the racing more exciting for the sport's fans. He criticised some of the recent changes to the sport's rules, including 'grooved' tyres and the increasing number of chicanes on today's racetracks.

"Motor racing needs action," added Lauda. "Last year was better than the year before, but there is very little passing compared to motor cycling where they pass each other five times a lap.

"The problem with cars is that they have too much downforce and the wings are not there now to allow you to slipstream and pass other cars.

"The lay-out of circuits is also a big problem. They have reduced speed by putting in chicanes. They slow everybody down, but you cannot get the slipstream to overtake coming out of them.

"I don't see why these new tyres are used. They could reduce downforce and speed in other ways and leave the tyres slick instead of using what are half-rain tyres in the dry.

"There needs to be more action for the public because they are the ones paying for Schumacher's 33 million pound (50 million US dollars) a year salary. The people in charge need to think what to do to make it more attractive."