Not up to Mercedes to make Formula 1 exciting - Niki Lauda

Niki Lauda has dismissed suggestions Mercedes is damaging Formula 1 with its current domination

After securing another front-row lock-out of the grid for the Canadian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg duly followed up with their 15th one-two as team-mates in an uneventful race.

Mercedes non-executive chairman and three times F1 champion Lauda brushed aside criticism of the potential harm being done to F1.

"I'm not in charge of the politics," said Lauda.

"Together with Toto [Wolff] I can only run the team in the best possible and most professional way and win every bloody race.

"That's what I'm here for, and the rest I don't know."

Mercedes' rivals are pushing for engine homologation rules to be opened up to make the field competitive, though any such change would require Mercedes' agreement.

Suggested to Lauda it was up to Mercedes to 'take a lead' on measures to improve F1, he replied: "We do. We win the races for you.

"Look at the Canadians - 12 per cent more people here for this so-called boring sport, and with no noise. All these Canadians are crazy."

Referencing the fact ticket sales are down for his forthcoming home race in Austria, Lauda added: "I said to Austrian television 'You crazy Austrians think like the Canadians and all come to Spielberg'."

Following the pitstop strategy blunder that robbed reigning champion Hamilton victory in the Monaco GP last month, Lauda was naturally satisfied with the fact Mercedes did not put a foot wrong at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

"It was a perfect result, nothing wrong, we couldn't have done a better job," said Lauda.

"The only difference is that the whole strategy and whatever we had to produce, was back to normal. Perfect drivers, perfect, nothing wrong.

"I'm always nervous when they're fighting in general all the way to the end because you never know what can happen. Thank god nothing happened so my nervousness was wrong."

shares
comments

Ferrari F1 team won't 'surrender' in face of Mercedes' performance

McLaren's Boullier: Mercedes will listen to F1 engine rule pleas

Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked

Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Alex Kalinauckas

Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked

How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule

How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
GP Racing

How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule

The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing

The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Jonathan Noble

The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14 How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14

Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate

Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Alex Kalinuackas

Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate

Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory

Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory

Subscribe