Lauda hits reverse over Hamilton comments

Niki Lauda's comments blown out of proportion

(GMM) Niki Lauda has hit reverse on his comments about world champion Lewis Hamilton.

On Tuesday, footage of the Mercedes team chairman speaking on Austrian broadcaster Servus TV emerged during which Lauda alleged Hamilton trashed a hospitality room after crashing in Baku qualifying.

Lauda also said Hamilton "lied" about the positive nature of his relationship with teammate Nico Rosberg.

The F1 legend then confirmed his comments about Hamilton's post-qualifying tantrum in Baku in a follow-up interview with Osterreich newspaper.

"He was sitting in the motor home and told me I must not follow because he was going to destroy everything," Lauda said.

"Later he let me in and we talked about everything."

But a media statement issued by Mercedes "on behalf of Niki Lauda" on Wednesday sought to "set the record straight".

"Lewis Hamilton did not in any way damage … his private driver room … and did not lie about his relationship with Nico Rosberg," the statement declared.

Mercedes added that Lauda's comments were "blown wildly out of proportion compared with the casual context in which they were made".