Lauda believes Hamilton should be number 1 at Mercedes

  • Published on 30 Aug 2017 10:31
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda believes that Valtteri Bottas should fall into a support role for the rest of the season and aid teammate Lewis Hamilton in the championship fight. Currently, Sebastian Vettel tops the standings, with Hamilton only seven points behind.

Bottas has been considered by many as a player in the 2017 title fight, but a poor showing in Belgium saw him slip further behind in the drivers' championship. The Finn is 34 points behind Hamilton and despite picking up two wins this year, Lauda thinks it is time for the team to prioritise a driver.

"This giving away of points must stop now," he said, referring to Hungary when Hamilton pulled over for Bottas to honour a policy of driver equality. "I was champion by half a point, so I know exactly how important every single point is when you count them in the end," the triple world champion insisted.

"I know exactly what we need to do. Bottas did not have a strong weekend at Spa so it is already clear that Lewis has a better chance for the championship. If Lewis had not given away those three points in Budapest, he would now be only four points behind Vettel," Lauda said.

Bottas still believes he is in the fight: "There are still eight races and a lot of points left on the table," he told Auto Motor und Sport. "Lewis and Sebastian have had no failures yet, and I don't wish that on anybody - it's just a fact. Something can always happen. It's up to me. I just have to be on pole position and then beat my opponents."

 

Fergal Walsh

Stop worrying Niki, with the extra oil that you can burn and the other teams cannot, you'll win both titles easily anyway without demotivating Bottas.

  • 3
  • Aug 30 2017 - 11:23

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Stop worrying Niki, with the extra oil that you can burn and the other teams cannot, you'll win both titles easily anyway without demotivating Bottas.

    • + 3
    • Aug 30 2017 - 11:23
  • Let them race instead of controling the results!

    • + 1
    • Aug 30 2017 - 12:31

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 Sauber
  • Points 1,608
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 203
  • Country Finland
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (35)
  • Place of b. Nastola, Finland
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar