Niki Lauda has played down reports Mercedes is making a serious bid to secure the services of world champion Sebastian Vettel. Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko revealed on Sunday that Lauda, Mercedes shareholder and chairman, "should absolutely be trying to get Vettel". Lauda replied to Bild am Sonntag newspaper: "I continued what (former motor sport director Norbert) Haug began."
But speaking to Austria's Osterreich newspaper, 64-year-old Lauda played down suggestions his bid for Vettel is serious. "Forget it," the outspoken triple world champion insisted. We're not trying to get him, as he has signed a contract with Red Bull until forever."
Lauda said Mercedes is very happy with its current driver lineup, comprising Nico Rosberg alongside new signing Lewis Hamilton. "With Hamilton and Rosberg we have the best pairing (in F1)," he insisted. "The two push each other forward positively, and the driver change has motivated the whole team."
Lauda also confirmed reports that Mercedes has engaged former BMW and Renault racer Robert Kubica as a driver for the team's sophisticated simulator at Brackley. "He brings a lot of experience," said Lauda, referring to the Pole, who is bidding to return to F1 in the future following his near-fatal rally crash in 2011. Due to the limited testing, the simulators are becoming very important." (GMM)
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Lauda plays down Vettel-to-Mercedes rumours
- Published on 08 May 2013 16:40
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Jan 26
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Jan 27
M. Verstappen
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Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
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Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
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Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
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Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
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Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
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Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
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Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Spain
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Bahrain
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Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Driver profile
- Team Ferrari
- Points 3,716
- Podiums 137
- Grand Prix 244
- Country GB
- Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (41)
- Place of b. Tewin, GB
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.74 m
- 485,176 comments on Ferrari
67 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Lewis Hamilton
Team profile
- Team name Renault
- Base Enstone, France
- Fernando Alonso 1
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Fernando Alonso 7
- Romain Grosjean 8
- Fernando Alonso 8
- Fernando Alonso 8
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Jenson Button 15
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Jolyon Palmer 30
- Esteban Ocon 31
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- 236,941 comments on Renault
- 26 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Renault
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