Five teams could win in Melbourne - Lauda
Niki Lauda believes that best structured teams will win at Albert Park
Mar.15 (GMM) Triple world champion Niki Lauda thinks "at least five teams" could be in the running to win the opening Grand Prix of 2013.
"So the best structured (ones)," said the famous Austrian, "Red Bull, us (Mercedes), Ferrari, McLaren and Lotus.
"After what we saw in winter testing, I would say that any of them could win at Albert Park," he told O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper in Melbourne.
Many believe Red Bull are the ultimate favourites - and Sebastian Vettel was quicker than the two Ferraris in opening practice - but there have also been suggestions the reigning world champions are struggling.
"There is no panic," Dr Helmut Marko told Bild newspaper. "A place on the podium in Melbourne would be a good result. The field is much closer together."
The two Ferraris were just off Vettel's pace early on Friday, but test driver Marc Gene was quoted by EFE news agency: "I think Vettel and Red Bull will be the ones to beat in the first races."
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
Gallery: All Williams F1 cars since 1978
Gené joins Motorsport Network as Spanish market contributor
Gene makes way for Shulzhitskiy in Nissan Le Mans line-up
Ollie Bearman admits F2 did not prepare him for brutal reality of Ferrari F1 debut
Rob Smedley sounds alarm on "slightly soul-destroying" Ferrari F1 upgrades
Why some F1 team bosses think drivers shouldn't have a say in the rules
Jorge Martin suffers another crash in Barcelona test, taken to hospital
Alex Marquez undergoes successful surgery after Barcelona crash
Why Ford 'loves the V8 idea' in F1 amid changing road car strategy
MotoGP’s crash-filled Catalan GP forces several riders out of Barcelona test
How F1's ADUO system works
How Colton Herta is chasing his F1 dream
How Formula 1 driving has changed – and stayed the same
Remembering a lost Italian F1 hero 40 years on
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