Lauda rubbishes Schu’s advisor role

(GMM) Niki Lauda has dismissed as "rubbish" suggestions that Michael Schumacher's attendance at the Spanish grand prix this weekend is anything other than symbolic.

Ferrari figures insist that the 38-year-old German will arrive at the Circuit de Catalunya on Friday in his role as an 'advisor'.

Kimi Raikkonen on Thursday confirmed that Schumacher will "try to help the team go forward" this weekend.

"I am sure he will follow things closely," triple world champion Lauda, who himself was once an advisor to the Maranello based team, told the newspaper 'Welt'.

Lauda insisted: "But all this gossip about him being an advisor or an assistant is rubbish.

"I do not know what the internal arrangements are, but my belief is that he is simply curious about keeping motor racing as a part of his life.

"For Ferrari, I rather see him as a kind of mascot."