OCTOBER 6, 2016

Red Bull caused Hamilton failure is nonsense says Lauda

Niki Lauda has rubbished a claim Red Bull pushed Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton so hard in Malaysia that it caused the Briton's engine to fail.

Niki Lauda has rubbished a claim Red Bull pushed Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton so hard in Malaysia that it caused the Briton's engine to fail.

Dr Helmut Marko told F1's official website that Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen were so competitive at Sepang that it "very likely forced him (Hamilton) into that engine failure".

F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman Lauda hit back: "I have never heard such nonsense.

"I do always admire Helmut's optimism," the triple world champion said of his Austrian compatriot.

"I think he always tries to find reasons why he would have won," Lauda told Auto Motor und Sport, referring to Marko.

Indeed, Lauda said Hamilton would have easily won last Sunday if his engine had not failed, as the Mercedes package had plenty in reserve.

"The fact that Nico pulled himself up from last place to third place is the only evidence you need," he said.

(GMM)