Niki Lauda blasts Ecclestone for 'destroying' F1 with negative comments

Formula One legend Niki Lauda has launched a blistering tirade on Bernie Ecclestone, saying that the F1 chief was 'destroying' the image of the auto-racing sport with his negative comments.

Ecclestone had earlier stated that F1 was in the worst phase it had ever been and insisted that he would not 'spend money to take my family to watch a race'.

Lauda, a three-time world champion, questioned the F1 chief executive's critical attitude towards the sport, the Mirror reported.

The comments come ahead of two crucial meetings on Tuesday in Geneva to decide on radical change for 2017 and with it the prospect of a spectacular car design.

Ecclestone has been a fierce and consistent critic of the current engine regulations, pointing out that the situation has given the top manufacturers but particularly Mercedes the ability to control the sport.

Meanwhile, the 2016 Formula One pre-season testing got off to a thunderous first test in Barcelona on Tuesday with honours split between reigning champion Lewis Hamilton and arch rival Sebastian Vettel.