Lauda: Schumi will win a race

Niki Lauda, who has been mixed views on Michael Schumacher’s return to F1, believes the German will win a race this season…

Niki Lauda, who has been mixed views on Michael Schumacher’s return to F1, believes the German will win a race this season.

Since making his comeback in 2010, Lauda has drifted between praising Schumacher’s efforts and telling the German that it is time to call it quits again.

This week, though, the 63-year-old has come out in support of the seven-time World Champion, saying this will be the year that he wins a grand prix.

“Michael Schumacher will win this year,” Lauda told the Bild newspaper.

“Mercedes are finally good enough to be able to fight at the front.”

As for criticism levelled at Schumacher in the wake of his Pirelli attack, Lauda said: “Schumacher cannot spoil Formula One.

“He has so many years in the business he knows how the store works.

“Rosberg’s success will spur him on rather than frustrate him. He will fight through it.”