Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsFormula 1

Lauda slams Kaltenborn and Sauber over EC complaint

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Niki Lauda has expressed heavy criticism towards Sauber and its team principal Monisha Kaltenborn in relation to the complaint lodged with the European Commission by the Swiss team.

Sauber has joined forces with Force India to seek an official stance by the EC on Formula 1's governance and how it divides income between the sport's small and larger teams, which both teams have deemed unfair.

Speaking last week to Swiss weekly newspaper, Lauda lambasted Kaltenborn and the Hinwill-based outfit's ill-advised initiatives involving the European Commission.

"Monisha Kaltenborn has her own way of running a team," Lauda said.

"In my opinion, there have been quite a few discrepancies that were close to the limit. If drivers who have paid cannot race, or their cars are confiscated before a Grand Prix, that is just stupid," the Austrian expressed with a clear reference to Sauber's trials and tribulations with driver Giedo Van der Garde at the beginning of the season.

But the Mercedes F1 non-executive chairman was especially critical of Sauber's indictment of Formula 1 as it was lodged with the EU.

"Sauber is part of a racing community," he explained. "They signed the Concorde Agreement where everything was stipulated to the last detail, and then they say 'This is suddenly not valid.' I don't understand the reasoning. Like every other sport, F1 has always had teams that win and teams that are behind."

"You can't have a team that is steadily accumulating debt and then suddenly as a last resort tries to bring the whole system into question. Everyone is responsible for himself. Sauber should fight first against their own inabilities."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.