Lauda: We are penalising teams and treating drivers like babies

F1 legend Niki Lauda has expressed his concerns over the future of the sport as he addresses potential changes being implemented by Liberty Media as they attempt to increase the racing spectacle.

Race teams and Liberty have been at odds in recent weeks over engine rule proposals plus the release of financial figures which will see a drop in 13% drop in prize money for the latest quarter - an issue for teams and fans alike.

Lauda feels that the honeymoon period for the American owners is over and it is time for them to understand in more detail what makes F1 great.

In an interview with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Lauda said:

"I'm worried. It was right that the American owners needed time to understand what F1 is - but that is about to expire, and what they think about the future is worrying me.

"The FIA, Chase Carey and Ross Brawn repeat that we need to level off the performance, but the DNA of F1 is the opposite. You are a fool if you think that to make grands prix more attractive you need to have a different winner every weekend. F1 is about competition.

"Developing cars is one of the important foundations, as well as the bravery of the drivers.

"Instead, you want to penalise the best teams, and protect the drivers as if they are babies - with the introduction of the halo for example."

Lauda also believes that the proposed fresh ideas have yet to materalise and that the owners are spending too much time watching what other sports do, rather than what is best for F1.

He continued: "At the heart of the problem is something else. In the face of cost growth of some €70million from one year to the next, revenues have declined.

"But where do we want to go from here? There should be ideas for generating more money, but I do not see them.

"I heard from Sean Bratches, who would like to see the drivers accompanied with grid kids. Is imitating football having new ideas?"

Lauda concluded that the communication beween Liberty Media and the teams needs to be improved so that proposals, such as the budget cap, are fully explained and given time to be implemented.

He concluded: "It needs a more open project. For example, the budget cap. It is logical and correct but it needs a three-year plan to realise it. We have employees, so what do we do with them? Do we just cast them off and throw them on the road?

"For now Liberty has only announced that they want to introduce it, but they have not explained how they intend to realise it."