Niki Lauda has released a statement clarifying comments he made about Lewis Hamilton's behaviour in Baku and relationship with team-mate Nico Rosberg.
In an interview on Servus TV, Lauda said Hamilton had destroyed his driver room in Baku after crashing during qualifying, handing pole position to Rosberg. Lauda also claimed Hamilton's comments that his relationship with Rosberg was now "surprisingly good" were false, with the Mercedes non-executive chairman saying: "Lewis lied about this."
However, Lauda has now issued a statement denying those claims. The full statement distributed by Mercedes reads:
"Following his appearance on a television discussion show on Servus TV recorded prior to last weekend's Austrian GP, Niki Lauda would like to set the record straight and state the following:
- Lewis Hamilton did not in any way damage a hotel room or his private driver room at the circuit during the race weekend in Baku; and
- Lewis Hamilton did not lie about his relationship with team-mate Nico Rosberg.
"Niki regrets any misunderstanding caused by comments that have been blown wildly out of proportion compared with the casual context in which they were made."
Scene at the Austrian Grand Prix
Austrian Grand Prix - Quotes of the week
Austrian Grand Prix - F1i Driver ratings
Breakfast with ... Alexander Rossi
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