Niki Lauda: Formula E "the worst thing"

Niki Lauda has hit out at Formula E, despite Mercedes GP securing an entry to the all-electric championship in two season's time.

Lauda, who owns a 10 per cent stake in the dominant Mercedes GP outfit, was reportedly quoted by Auto Motor und Sport in 2014 as saying Formula E was " the worst thing I have seen for a long time."

"The cars look like toys; they creep around the track one after the other. For me, this is not motor sport," he added.

It is unclear who made the decision for Mercedes' Formula One team, which as well as Lauda is owned by Daimler (60 per cent) and Toto Wolff (30 per cent), or who will run the team, but unless his opinion has changed since the first Formula E season, Lauda's involvement can be expected to be limited.