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 

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

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 - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Alfa Romeo Racing
  • Points 1,602
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 165
  • Country FI
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (33)
  • Place of b. Nastola, FI
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar