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LONDON, England - Niki Lauda has hit out at Red Bull for dropping his name from a corner at the returning Austrian grand prix venue.
Now called the Red Bull Ring, the former A1-Ring was demolished and totally rebuilt by the energy drinks company, and next month it will host its first grand prix since 2003.
Prior to the Red Bull takeover, one of the corners at the A1-Ring was called the 'Niki Lauda Kurve', in honour of the Austrian great and triple World champion.
NAME CHANGE
Now, the same corner has been renamed 'Pirelli'. Also gone is the Gerhard Berger Kurve, replaced by Wurth, a German tool company.
"I'm very disappointed," Lauda told Kleine Zeitung newspaper.
"I can only presume it is because I am now at Mercedes and we are beating Red Bull," he added.
So far, the 'Jochen Rindt Kurve' - named after the posthumous 1970 World champion - has survived the Red Bull Ring's search for sponsor dollars.
But correspondent Gerald Pototschnig said even that corner could be renamed if a sponsor makes an attractive enough offer.
"As punishment," the angry Lauda said, "Mercedes will be happy to celebrate a one-two in Spielberg."
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
Now called the Red Bull Ring, the former A1-Ring was demolished and totally rebuilt by the energy drinks company, and next month it will host its first grand prix since 2003.
Prior to the Red Bull takeover, one of the corners at the A1-Ring was called the 'Niki Lauda Kurve', in honour of the Austrian great and triple World champion.
NAME CHANGE
Now, the same corner has been renamed 'Pirelli'. Also gone is the Gerhard Berger Kurve, replaced by Wurth, a German tool company.
"I'm very disappointed," Lauda told Kleine Zeitung newspaper.
"I can only presume it is because I am now at Mercedes and we are beating Red Bull," he added.
So far, the 'Jochen Rindt Kurve' - named after the posthumous 1970 World champion - has survived the Red Bull Ring's search for sponsor dollars.
But correspondent Gerald Pototschnig said even that corner could be renamed if a sponsor makes an attractive enough offer.
"As punishment," the angry Lauda said, "Mercedes will be happy to celebrate a one-two in Spielberg."
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.