Lauda denies becoming Mercedes' new 'strong man'

Niki Lauda has vowed "no compromise" amid speculation he is the new strong man at Mercedes. Some insiders have drawn a parallel between the triple world champion's new arrival as non-executive chairman at Mercedes and his role at Jaguar early last decade.

Ten years ago, Lauda joined Jaguar and tension between him and team boss Bobby Rahal led to the great Austrian's ascension to the throne. So should Ross Brawn and Norbert Haug be worried now? "I certainly will not compromise," 63-year-old Lauda told Osterreich in an interview. "Together, we must ensure that Mercedes is able to compete next season. I'm not an engineer, so I will see that the right people are working with the right priorities and figure out why it did not work out this year," said Lauda.

He baulked at reports he is set to take over from Briton Brawn as the real 'strong man' of Mercedes. "That's still (going to be) the team principal Ross Brawn, who is responsible for the development of the car and the team," Lauda insisted to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper. "I'm something like the link between the racing headquarters in the UK and the company headquarters in Germany," he explained.

Indeed, Lauda will have little to do with the operation of the team at grands prix, as he is continuing as a television pundit for the German broadcaster RTL. (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar