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Mercedes have moved to clarify comments from non-executive chairman Niki Lauda on Austrian television which suggested that Lewis Hamilton destroyed a changing room at the European Grand Prix.
Quotes attributed to Lauda made on Servus TV before last weekend's Austrian Grand Prix claimed that Hamilton trashed a suite due to crashing out in qualifying in Baku, while also suggesting he had lied about the strength of his relationship with team-mate Nico Rosberg.
However, Mercedes have subsequently released a statement in which Lauda backtracked on those comments.
The statement read: "Following his appearance on a television discussion show on Servus TV recorded prior to last weekend's Austrian GP, Niki Lauda would like to set the record straight and state the following:
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"Lewis Hamilton did not in any way damage a hotel room or his private driver room at the circuit during the race weekend in Baku.
"Lewis Hamilton did not lie about his relationship with team-mate Nico Rosberg.
"Niki regrets any misunderstanding caused by comments that have been blown wildly out of proportion compared with the casual context in which they were made."