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Niki Lauda has backed Sebastian Vettel's decision to defy Red Bull over team orders, writes Byron Young in Barcelona.

And the F1 legend said the champions were wrong to order the German to move over for new teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

To his embarrassment it was the second race in succession he had heard those words.

Asked if it was fair of Vettel to defy his team, Lauda said: "Yeah. Absolutely. That is a proper racing driver attitude.

"Being an ex-driver I can say to make this call from the pit wall, only annoys drivers. It does not give them any help."

Team boss Christian Horner defended Vettel's radioed defiance when he shouted "tough luck" when asked to move aside for the Australian.

"Horner gave Vettel an order and he said 'screw you' so there is a difference between them and us.

"We don't give orders. Everyone saw in Bahrain, where they were told to watch the cars and we let them race. That is our philosophy."

Lauda said the little known Australian, still in his first season at Red Bull, is shaping up to be a real challenge for Vettel but tips the four-time champion to ultimately get the upper hand.

Lauda believes it is not about talent but about getting used to a new way of driving.

"Ricciardo is an outstanding driver," said the Austrian.

"He has come into a brand new team in this new formula and drives these cars.

"Vettel adapted his driving style to the diffuser-type, on the throttle, hot air onto the diffuser, he was used to this for many years to make the best outstanding performance of his old car, so he is still hooked up to this old system.

"The new guy comes in and does not know about this bulls**t from the past and gets on with it."

"Vettel will quickly understand it I think and change his driving style and he will be like he was before.

"I think he will be back to how he was. He can change his driving style because he is a big talent."

"Vettel now has to challenge himself because the other guy is quicker in the same car.

"If it was another team and there is more power it is another thing.

"I have been in this situation and Sebastian has to adapt his driving style to drive the car as well as Ricciardo does."