Ecclestone-led breakaway series news to Lauda

Niki Lauda has distanced himself from reports linking former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone with forming a breakaway series as Mercedes and Ferrari continue to butt heads with Liberty Media. American owners Liberty released a vision for F1 in 2021 and beyond last week, but the sport's two biggest teams have expressed dissatisfaction with it.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said a proposed budget cap of $150million was unrealistic, while Ferrari have threatened to walk away from F1 over proposed changes to engine regulations, which would make power units "cheaper and simpler" according to Liberty.

Ecclestone attended the Bahrain Grand Prix last week - wearing shirts which bore the old F1 logo, rather than Liberty's new one - and he later spoke scathingly of Liberty giving him an office outside of the paddock.

Ecclestone leading a breakaway series including Ferrari and Mercedes would be a major threat to F1's future, but Lauda says the priority is "to get on terms" with F1's current owners.

"I often meet with Bernie in Ibiza," Lauda told Austrian broadcaster ORF. "I also saw him over Easter and I was glad that he came to Bahrain.

"Sure, he is not pleased with how Formula 1 is developing, but in my view completely understandably.

"Because while we're debating budget caps, we're tormenting people instead of giving them decent races.

"There is no breakaway programme. There's no idea of it at all. First of all, it's too far away.

"For now it's important to get on terms with Liberty Media so that we can all continue to be here in a reasonable way."