Niki Lauda says Mercedes' error which cost Lewis Hamilton victory in the Monaco Grand Prix was "unacceptable".
Hamilton was brought in to the pits under a late safety car having enjoyed a substantial lead throughout the race, but with no other drivers pitting Hamilton rejoined in third and was unable to overtake in the closing laps. Mercedes chairman Lauda says the team got the decision "completely wrong" and will have to investigates how the error happened.
"Honestly, I really feel sorry [for Hamilton]," Lauda said. "I apologised, even to his engineers over there, because this is for me unacceptable. Nevertheless, Toto [Wolff], I gave him the order to analyse it properly and see where the mistake. But absolutely the decision to bring him in was completely wrong."
Asked for his thoughts on what caused the mistake, Lauda says too many people were talking at a crucial time.
"I don’t know. Confusion in the overhead. I would say, a lot of people talking and the wrong decision, very simple to say. It was not necessary, this is my view of it, and that’s it."
When it was put to him that Ferrari wasn't a threat, Lauda replied: "Fully agree.
"I was listen to the talks, the talks were going forward and backwards and there was too much confusion. In the end it was the wrong decision, no question about it."
