Niki Lauda has sharply criticised
Lewis Hamilton's form in the 2008
Formula 1 World Championship so far – especially his calamitous performance in Bahrain – and insisted the young Briton is putting too much pressure on himself in his bid to claim the crown.
The McLaren-Mercedes star – who finished second in the drivers' world championship at his maiden attempt last year – triumphed in the 2008 curtain-raiser in Melbourne, but since then a litany of errors have conspired to see him surrender his advantage in the title chase.
A grid penalty was followed by a pit-stop delay that constrained him to fifth place at the flag a week later in Malaysia, whilst worse was to come in the desert kingdom with a hefty practice shunt, appalling getaway when the lights went out and coming-together with former team-mate
Fernando Alonso as he attempted to make his way back up through the field again. He ended the day down in 13th place – epitomising his nightmare weekend – and having slipped back to third spot in the drivers' standings.
“At the moment Lewis has absolutely not impressed me,” triple world champion and former
McLaren ace Lauda told the
Daily Mirror. “I thought he would get better this year, but he has got worse. He is in pretty bad shape.
“The crash with Fernando Alonso and then on Friday in practice too, was absolutely needless. Lewis showed nothing in Bahrain. I think it's because of the pressure he is putting on himself.”
The outspoken Austrian has also added his voice to those of fellow former title-winners Sir
Jackie Stewart and Jody Scheckter in calling for beleagured
FIA President
Max Mosley to resign in the wake of the sex scandal revelations that have rocked the sport and, Stewart argues, left it ‘vulnerable' [see separate story –
click here].
