Lauda Says Alonso Best Driver in F1

Former Ferrari champion Niki Lauda has left his criticism towards the Scuderia aside in recent days and insisted that his latest burst directed at the Italian team for its tactics in the German Grand Prix have nothing to do with his personal consideration of its driver Fernando Alonso. In order to make that perfectly clear, the Austrian told the media that, from his personal point of view, the Spaniard is the best driver currently racing in F1.

“I don't have a problem with him at all. First, from my point of view, he is the best driver currently in F1. There's no-one like him - not Vettel, or Hamilton, or any of the others,” said Lauda in an interview with Spain's El Pais, before explaining his recent negative comments towards Alonso.

“The only criticisms I've had is when he was at McLaren, and now with the team orders at Ferrari. You can't do what he did after Germany – when he came out and said he knew nothing about what happened on the track. He tried to convince people that he had no idea what his team had done from the pit wall. That's all I've criticized,” added Lauda.

Additionally, he also referred to the young guns of Formula One Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel – although the former is already a world champion and proved himself to be already an experienced driver – arguing that the Brit is “far more complete” at the moment.

“Today, Lewis is far more complete,” added the Austrian racer. When asked if Vettel's mistakes this season remind him of how Hamilton used to conduct himself in his first seasons with McLaren, Lauda replied: “Perhaps, but now Hamilton has matured a lot and makes not many mistakes despite being incredibly aggressive.”

Finally, Lauda predicted that Red Bull still holds the best chance of winning the title this season, despite their few ruined races this season (for one reason or another).