Alonso should be 'careful' with 'sensitive Italians' - Lauda
The famous Austrian said Alonso runs the risk that Ferrari will eventually turn away from him.
Aug.26 (GMM) Niki Lauda has urged Fernando Alonso to change tack when it comes to working with Ferrari.
As his title campaign drove off the rails in July, the Spaniard entered the summer break criticising Ferrari's development, and having deployed his manager for talks with Red Bull.
"If you drive for Ferrari," he told the German broadcaster RTL, "you sometimes have to expect that the car is not that great.
"But his mechanics work day and night on a car that is not as good as a Red Bull at the moment -- and he complains," said Lauda.
"But you have to constantly motivate the people -- the Italians are very sensitive," he added.
"They expect him to say 'I didn't win, but I want to thank you all that we finished second, and we are going uphill now'.
"That is the way to deal with the Italians," said Lauda.
The famous Austrian said Alonso runs the risk that Ferrari will eventually turn away from him.
"He has to be a bit careful," said Lauda. "Alonso is sometimes really not likeable.
"For me, as a package, he's the best racer out there today. But if, compared to Vettel, Hamilton or Rosberg he was to lose his two tenths of 'magic', then we would have to see what is his reputation.
"At the moment he lives off his performance," he concluded.
Share Or Save This Story
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Pirelli chief calls for radical F1 overhaul
Fernando Alonso's only goal in no-hope Baku: Save parts for F1's triple-header
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Fernando Alonso’s idea to ‘save’ F1 before the V8 return – and how realistic it is
Lewis Hamilton: ‘I towed Charles the whole time’ and ended up 0.5s slower
Why "dangerous" Hamilton-Lawson incident in Azerbaijan GP practice hasn't led to change
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
James Vowles hails Williams factory effort after major Baku F1 upgrade
Why Max Verstappen says 0.196s Baku finish-line gap to George Russell is slightly misleading
Franco Colapinto penalty revealed for causing Baku F1 pile-up
Ross Chastain was just a fan when he saw client Carson Hocevar in a fight
Baku late-race chaos almost costs Russell victory over Verstappen
How George Russell claimed his career-best pole margin in F1 Azerbaijan GP qualifying
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
What we learned from Thursday practice at the 2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments