Hamilton: I wouldn't still be at Mercedes if not for Lauda

Lewis Hamilton says he may not have stuck with Mercedes throughout their dominant run in Formula 1 were it not for the support provided by Niki Lauda.

Although Hamilton has won five of the last six world drivers' championships, his defeat in the 2016 season to Nico Rosberg was played out to the backdrop of a feud between the pair that became increasingly bitter.

It was reported at the time that Hamilton had threatened to quit the team in the aftermath of the Spanish GP, which saw the Mercedes drivers crash out on the opening lap.

Lauda passed away earlier this year, having served as Mercedes' non-executive chairman and playing a crucial role in the signing of Hamilton from McLaren in 2012, as well as keeping him on the team it now appears.

Hamilton said: "I miss getting the texts. I miss sharing those videos, and I still have a lot of our conversations and every now and then I revisit it.

"But again, without his support, I probably wouldn't have made the switch to come to this team.

"Without his support, I wouldn't still be with this team.

"I don't think this team would have had success without his support. Going to the board, pushing and breaking their balls. That is what he was the best at.

"But also being real with me. Being the bridge between… Toto [Wolff] was a racing driver and the board, who were not racing drivers, to have a real champion who understands, and empathises with how difficult it is to deliver weekend in weekend out.

"That is where he has been such a great, great pillar for me. So I miss him a lot."

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