Formula One: YOU'RE A BUNCH OF IDIOTS

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Mar 21, 2004 | by BYRON YOUNG in Sepang

NIKI LAUDA slammed the entire grid as "idiots" as Ferrari's Grand Prix runaway continued in Malaysia.

The legendary triple champion failed to spare the team bosses blushes as he blasted the new formula as "the worst thing I have ever seen".

Formula One was handed its nightmare scenario here yesterday afternoon as Michael Schumacher followed up Melbourne's dominant performance.

He lapped seven-tenths of a second clear of all of his rivals to start on pole in this morning's race with team-mate Rubens Barrichello third.

The only driver who had posed a serious threat, Spaniard Fernando Alonso, spun into the gravel trying to keep pace.

Fans had to wait 92 minutes before a lap of any significance was performed and seven minutes short of two hours for a sparkling performance by Mark Webber to split the two Ferraris.

"I admire Ferrari and Schumacher," said Lauda. "If they can be so fast and the rest can't, they are idiots.

"Ferrari are not cheating. They are using a proper car, so why can't the rest of the grid do it? If Ferrari win again we will all be going home feeling miserable."

Sepang has been Ferrari's Achilles Heel for the past two years and, if they cannot be tamed here, the signs are ominous for the rest of the season.

The outspoken Austrian warned Grand Prix racing to get its house in order fast or risk destroying the sport.

Lauda's comments turned up the temperature on teams already suffering in the sweltering 99-degree Malaysian heat with track temperatures topping a whopping 129 degrees. The Austrian was so disgusted he had booked his flight home before the end of the action.

"It is a typical result of political in-fighting in the sport. Everyone wants different things and the result is a bad compromise," added Lauda.

"Change should be made immediately. I would re-think the whole thing properly - and do it now.

"You need to build action quickly for the people in the grandstands and those watching television and get a result.

"If the build-up goes on forever people start going home and you're finished. I don't understand why everything is so complicated."

The only moment of pure genius came from Webber who outshone the other stars of the new generation Kimi Raikkonen, fifth, and Alonso, who starts last, to hand Jaguar their first front-row start.

"I thought I had been smoking the wrong kind of weed when I saw his grid position," said team boss Tony Purnell.

Webber apart, Lauda sounded a warning bell that television viewers have plenty of choice thanks to a summer sportsfest and F1 needs to get its house in order quickly.

"With Euro 2004 and the Olympic Games this year F1 figures will fall like you won't believe," he added.