Niki Lauda takes aim at Sauber and Monisha Kaltenborn

In the polished world of Formula 1, it’s rare to directly name individuals on controversial topics. But for this kind of thing, you can count on Niki Lauda to not mince words.

Thus, while Sahara Force India is one of the two teams that signed the complaint, it is Sauber that is the focus of criticism from the Mercedes leader, as expressed in the columns of the Handelszeitung: “I find this approach very special: Sauber is part of a racing community. They have signed the Concorde Agreements, where everything is regulated down to the last detail and then, suddenly they say: ‘This no longer suits us.'”

One of the reasons Niki Lauda spares Sahara Force India is undoubtedly that the Silverstone team is powered by Mercedes. It is never a good idea to openly criticize someone who brings you more than 20 million euros per season.

On the other hand, taking aim at a team powered by a competitor is another matter. The former driver doesn’t mince his words: Sauber must fight against its own inability. For years, Sauber has failed to build a competitive car that can compete with the best teams.

The Mercedes shareholder also does not spare the leader of the Swiss team, Monisha Kaltenborn, recalling the painful episode at the beginning of the season when Giedo van der Garde tried to legally secure the seat his sponsors had funded last season: « She has her own way of leading a team. There were, in my opinion, some inconsistencies that were very borderline. If the drivers have paid and cannot race or if the cars are seized before the Grand Prix, then it is simply stupid. »

This is undoubtedly just the beginning of heated verbal exchanges in a battle that could challenge the foundations of the F1 economic model.

With the participation of www.racingbusiness.fr