NOVEMBER 26, 2002

Lauda's sour grapes

Grace is not something one really associates with Niki Lauda and so his reaction to being fired by the Ford Motor Company from his role as head of the Premier Performance Division and Jaguar Racing is not altogether surprising. Lauda told pressmen that "in England things work differently. Britons do have their unique way of solving problems. They saw away at the legs of a chair - nobody talks about anything because they of course all stick together until they get what they want.

"I was always aware that that's how it works and now it's happened. I am neither an engineer nor an Englishman and that's why it's easy for me to accept being replaced."

Given Ford's extremely gentle treatment of Lauda, his reaction seems to be rather harsh but then Niki has always been known for his forthright views and opinions.