Niki Lauda has brushed away Ferrari's suggestion that a Mercedes is not a "real" red car.
After Michael Schumacher kicked off his new career at Mercedes by appearing at the wheel of a red SLS AMG for a TV commercial, Luca di Montezemolo said the German marque was the seven time world champion's second choice for his F1 return.
"If there was the possibility of a third car, with great respect for Mercedes, Michael would have been promoting a real red Ferrari not a red Mercedes," he said.
Lauda, who won two of his three world championships at the wheel of a Ferrari, told Germany's Bild newspaper: "Ferrari doesn't yet own the colour red.
"I still have my red cap!" laughed the 60-year-old Austrian.
