Lauda ‘worried’ about F1 under Liberty Media

Niki Lauda has revealed he is “worried” about Formula 1 and whether new owners Liberty Media are taking the correct steps to preserve the sport’s ‘DNA.’

Earlier this month Liberty Media revealed their engine proposal for the 2021 season.

The new owners are keen to ensure a more level playing field and want to introduce engines that will go some way towards doing just that while also cutting costs.

However, Lauda fears it may be the wrong route for the sport.

“I’m worried,” he told Italian newspaper Gazzetto dello Sport.

“It was right that the American owners needed time to understand what F1 is – but that is about to expire.

“And what they think about the future is worrying me.

“The FIA, Chase Carey and Ross Brawn repeat that we need to level off the performance, but the DNA of F1 is the opposite.

“You are a fool if you think that to make grands prix more attractive you need to have a different winner every weekend. F1 is about competition.

“Developing cars is one of the important foundations, as well as the bravery of the drivers.

“Instead, you want to penalise the best teams, and protect the drivers as if they are babies – with the introduction of the halo for example.”