LAUDA: ‘THE WORST I’VE EVER SEEN’
F1 legend Niki Lauda slammed the decision to boot Max Verstappen from the podium in a rant aimed directly at the sport’s stewards.
The 68-year-old said the disappointing finish was destroying the sport.
“This decision is the worst I’ve ever seen. He did nothing wrong. We’re racing drivers, we’re not on a normal road,” he said per Motorsport.com. “It’s ridiculous to destroy the sport with this kind of decision.”
Lauda poked holes in the stewards’ logic, claiming a decision was made last year to hold back from penalising drivers if their actions were not obviously dangerous.
“The stewards were in, (Jean) Todt asked everybody, Charlie (Whiting) was there, we were there, and there we agreed all together that unless it is dangerous, the stewards would not interfere,” he said.
“Very simple. If they drive over (each other) and go upside down, only then they will come in. It was the beginning of last year.”
The three-time world champion said he’d be sitting down with officials this year to “start it all over again”.
“Next strategy meeting we need to bring it up,” he said. “Because we cannot do that, it’s going too far. There was nothing to interfere with, it was a normal overtaking.”
F1 legend Niki Lauda slammed the decision to boot Max Verstappen from the podium in a rant aimed directly at the sport’s stewards.
The 68-year-old said the disappointing finish was destroying the sport.
“This decision is the worst I’ve ever seen. He did nothing wrong. We’re racing drivers, we’re not on a normal road,” he said per Motorsport.com. “It’s ridiculous to destroy the sport with this kind of decision.”
Lauda poked holes in the stewards’ logic, claiming a decision was made last year to hold back from penalising drivers if their actions were not obviously dangerous.
“The stewards were in, (Jean) Todt asked everybody, Charlie (Whiting) was there, we were there, and there we agreed all together that unless it is dangerous, the stewards would not interfere,” he said.
“Very simple. If they drive over (each other) and go upside down, only then they will come in. It was the beginning of last year.”
The three-time world champion said he’d be sitting down with officials this year to “start it all over again”.
“Next strategy meeting we need to bring it up,” he said. “Because we cannot do that, it’s going too far. There was nothing to interfere with, it was a normal overtaking.”
I demand a stewards enquiry, just because my predictions were pants shouldn't mean I get penalised, I have children to support 
