Niki Lauda says Fernando Alonso would bring trouble to Red Bull

Fernando Alonso

Niki Lauda has dismissed suggestions Formula One’s Fernando Alonso is a real candidate to race alongside Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull next year.

“He [Alonso] would only bring trouble to the team,” Lauda, Mercedes’ team chairman and the outspoken former triple world champion, told Auto Motor und Sport.

So, he tipped the reigning title winners to choose between two more realistic candidates to succeed the Le Mans-bound Mark Webber.

“With probably four world championships in Vettel, Red Bull has the luxury to weigh in peace the benefits of [Kimi] Räikkönen or [Daniel] Ricciardo,” Lauda told the German magazine.

“One is the better solution in the short term, the other in the long term. In the end they can take a risk. But not Ferrari.”

Indeed, Lauda apparently sees sense in the latest rumors linking 2007 world champion Räikkönen with a Ferrari return.

“If Räikkönen doesn’t go to Red Bull, then Ferrari should try to get him on board,” he said. “For a counterweight to Alonso.

“After six years without a title, Ferrari is under great pressure,” added Lauda.