Lauda urges Alonso to change tack with 'sensitive' Italians

  • Published on 27 Aug 2013 17:17
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Niki Lauda has urged Fernando Alonso to change tack when it comes to working with Ferrari. As his title campaign drove off the rails in July, the Spaniard entered the summer break criticising Ferrari's development, and having deployed his manager for talks with Red Bull. But Lauda, now Mercedes' team chairman but once a highly-successful Ferrari driver, has some advise for Alonso.

"If you drive for Ferrari," he told the German broadcaster RTL, "you sometimes have to expect that the car is not that great. But his mechanics work day and night on a car that is not as good as a Red Bull at the moment -- and he complains," said Lauda. But you have to constantly motivate the people -- the Italians are very sensitive," he added. "They expect him to say 'I didn't win, but I want to thank you all that we finished second, and we are going uphill now'. That is the way to deal with the Italians," said Lauda.

The famous Austrian said Alonso runs the risk that Ferrari will eventually turn away from him. "He has to be a bit careful," said Lauda. "Alonso is sometimes really not likeable. For me, as a package, he's the best racer out there today. But if, compared to Vettel, Hamilton or Rosberg he was to lose his two tenths of 'magic', then we would have to see what is his reputation. At the moment he lives off his performance," he concluded. (GMM)

Order the latest Ferrari merchandise here!

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 533
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 149
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (42)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar