Lauda: Hamilton is completely mad
Niki Lauda has lashed out at Lewis Hamilton following the McLaren driver’s incident-packed Canadian Grand Prix…
Niki Lauda has lashed out at Lewis Hamilton following the McLaren driver’s incident-packed Canadian Grand Prix.
Although he completed only seven laps around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Hamilton endured a nightmare race and was involved in several incidents that caught the attention of the stewards. After the race started behind the Safety Car because of wet conditions, he made contact with Mark Webber at Turn 1. Both drivers were able to continue though.
A few laps later he tried to overtake Jenson Button on the start-finish straight, but his team-mate took the racing line and squeezed him against the pit wall. Hamilton was forced to retire with in a puncture to the left-rear tyre and suspension problem.
The 26-year-old faces an investigation from the stewards after the race for the incident with Button.
Lauda feels the FIA should come down hard on Hamilton as his driving is too dangerous.
“What Hamilton did there goes beyond all boundaries,” Lauda said during his commentary on RTL television. “He is completely mad.
“If the FIA does not punish him, I do not understand the world any more. At some point there has to be an end to all the jokes. You cannot drive like this – as it will result in someone getting killed.”
Former World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi, who is a race steward in Montreal, also warned Hamilton that he needs to calm down.
“I think Lewis is an exceptional talent, a World Champion, but sometimes he is too aggressive when he tries to overtake,” Fittipaldi told Brazilian website Totalrace before the race.
“It was like that in Monaco with Felipe [Massa], placing half of the car in the sidewalk and putting Felipe in a difficult position, at least.
“He put Felipe in a dangerous position, really. I think there has to be a limit for being aggressive, respecting the others and still being competitive. You can be competitive, but you have to respect the others.”
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