SEPTEMBER 11, 1995

Lauda ousted by Ferrari

RACING legend Niki Lauda has been kicked out of his role as a special advisor to the Ferrari F1 team - a move which is being seen as a major political victory for Ferrari team boss Jean Todt.

Lauda has been working as a consultant to Ferrari since the start of 1992, and he was responsible for recommending the hiring of designer John Barnard, Todt and driver Michael Schumacher. Lauda's position was due to his friendship with Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo, who was Lauda's team manager at Ferrari during the great days of the mid-1970s.

In recent months however Todt and Lauda have been involved in a power struggle for control of the team's destiny and di Montezemolo appears to have sided with the Frenchman rather than his old friend.

Lauda's responded waspishly to the news, telling Austrian television that Ferrari will never be successful with Todt in charge.