F1: Lauda clarifies Hamilton 'lie' comments

Niki Lauda has distanced himself from comments suggesting Lewis Hamilton lied about his relationship with Mercedes Formula 1 teammate Nico Rosberg.

Mercedes non-executive chairman Lauda appeared on a television discussion show on Servus TV recently in which he is reported to have made accusations against Hamilton. It is claimed Lauda said of his fellow three-times F1 champion that after missing out on pole position at the European Grand Prix in Baku he went on to trash his driver room at the circuit.

It was also suggested Lauda dismissed remarks from Hamilton that his relationship with Rosberg is better than he told reporters in an interview of his own.

Mercedes has now issued a statement on Lauda's behalf that 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 teammate 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."

Originally on Autosport.com