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Niki Lauda Makes Big Championship Claim Ahead Of Spanish Grand Prix

Niki Lauda Makes Big Championship Claim Ahead Of Spanish Grand Prix

It could be an interesting season if he's right.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

The Formula One championship has so far given us two wins a piece for Ferrari and Mercedes. However if anyone think that two team dominance will last all season Niki Lauda has given some hope.

For the last three seasons Mercedes have led the constructors and drivers championship from start to finish with the only team ever looking likely to stop them being themselves.

Vettel is back on form and in the title race. PA Images

Whilst Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were battling on track anything was possible. This season though the Silver Arrows have come under heavy competition from Ferrari.

The Scuderia have taken two wins through Sebastien Vettel with the German leading the drivers championship. Valtteri Bottas' maiden win in Russia evened things up at two races each.

With the Spanish Grand Prix being the traditional start to the busy period before the summer break many would expect things to continue the way they've gone but Niki Lauda thinks differently.

Bottas celebrates his first win after 82 races. PA Images

Speaking about the upgrades that teams are expected to bring to Barcelona the Mercedes non-executive chairman said, via Autosport:

"The season will start new.

"Who has the better upgrades, we don't know yet. But we will see in Barcelona."

Lauda and Toto Wolf will hope their upgrade is the best. PA Images

Ferrari and Red Bull are expected to make changes to their aerodynamics this week with the Red Bull particularly in need of an improvement.

Daniel Ricciardo admitted last week that the upgrade to their car will keep them ticking over until Renault's update to the engine, expected after the Canadian Grand Prix.

Mercedes upgrade's for Spain will likely focus on the weight of the car with the team believing the weight of the car is affecting the balance.

Speaking about the battle his two drivers face now that Bottas has registered a win Lauda added, "This was one race, he has won his first race and now we have to wait and see...

""Bottas was quicker [in Russia] because he won the race but Lewis is an outstanding talent, a world champion.

"Bottas beat him but perhaps the next three times maybe Lewis will do that."

The season is about to pick up!

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