Lauda hits out at newbie Hamilton on 60th birthday

http://austriantimes.at/index.php?id=11248

Niki Lauda, one of Austria’s most iconic sportsmen, important business players and society personalities, turns 60 on Sunday.

Austrian weekly news magazine "profil" asked Lauda for an interview on the occasion of his 60th birthday, which will occur on 22 February. And Lauda, again, proved to be charismatic and quick-witted.

Austrian Times has the best bits of the interview conducted by society journalist Angelika Hager and economic journalist Michael Nikbakhsh, Austria’s Journalist of the Year – exclusively in English.

Read here why Lauda has no friends, what he really thinks of F1 champion Lewis Hamilton and what his tombstone will say one day.

The three-time Formula 1 champion successfully started his own aviation companies after his sporting career – first, Lauda Air in 1979, which was taken over by competitor Austrian Airlines, and FlyNiki in 2003, which today cooperates with German carrier AirBerlin.

Asked how much he is worth, Lauda says: "You don’t talk about money. I learnt that as a child. When I asked my mother: ‘How much money does granddad (the iconic industrial Hans Lauda) have?’, she slapped me in the face."

Asked about what differentiates today’s generation of Formula 1 drivers from the pilots of his active years, he says: "Back then, death was always an option. Today’s chaps have no idea. They drive go-karts until they turn 18 and then start their Formula One career. They know nothing apart from accelerating and handling the steering wheel."

Lauda adds: "They haven’t got a chance to develop a personality. The only kind of charisma someone like 22-year-old (2008 F1 champion) Lewis Hamilton has is his Ms Scherzinger (Hamilton’s girlfriend and singer with the girl group *****cat Dolls)."

Lauda in the past always claimed he had no friends at all. Confronted with this statement now, he says: "That is absolutely true. There were no doubts about that while I was active, anyway – everyone was ready to roll over someone else’s head to win. You have to be a loner to have success in motorsports.

"I don’t need anyone to help me get out of a rut – because I don’t get into one. I am always prepared for a worst-case scenario. If someone approaches me to give me some advice, I am already two steps ahead of him."

Confronted with the rumour he is infamous for leaving get-togethers without previous notice, he reveals: "That’s true. I sometimes simply get up and leave. It’s not like I don’t say anything – I have good manners. When sitting together at a table, I ask the person next to me to apologise for me because I need to leave for a minute. I simply don’t return – I hate to waste my time."

There seems to be a contradiction since Lauda seems to be a regular at various Austrian and international VIP events. But he says: "All those parties and presentations annoy me terribly. I attend as few as possible, and only as often as necessary to satisfy my sponsors. And I always leave as soon as possible. Having to make small talk is just dreadful."

For years, Lauda pledged never to marry again after getting divorced in 1991 from Marlene, whom he was married to for 15 years. But last August, he married his long-time girlfriend Birgit Wetzinger, a former stewardess. Lauda never provided any details about it but just said the procedure – which he managed to keep secret for weeks – had lasted only four minutes.

Now he says: "It’s great my wife is 30 years younger than me. It means I am confronted with completely new challenges."

Lauda, however, is quick to point out he needs neither Viagra nor glasses.

Asked how content he is with how he raised his sons Matthias, 28, and Lukas, 30, Lauda says: "They are honest, straight-forward lads. No affectations, no ‘Paris Hilton syndrome.’"

Lauda, however, admits he is burdened by his failure to create a relationship with his illegitimate son Christoph, aged 27.

Lauda became a legend by surviving the accident at the Monza racing court in 1976 when his Ferrari caught fire. He says today he does not remember a thing. But he adds: "Only once, when I went with [former wife] Marlene to Ibiza, there was something in my subconsciousness – after smoking some strong weed. When I felt I was about to fall into the sink, I remembered I had tried to defend myself back then, thinking this can’t be how I have to die. I have never touched any herbs since that night."

Asked what the biggest insult he had to suffer in his life was, he says: "That was when a journalist asked my soon after my accident whether my wife would file for divorce because of the way I looked. Another hard blow was when Germany’s ‘Bild’ newspaper asked ‘What is it like to live without a face?’"

Lauda also remembers how he decided to become a race-car driver. He says: "My grandfather terrorised my whole family with his dominance. Getting into this ‘idiots’ sport’ was the best way to escape from all that."

Reminiscing about when a LaudaAir plane crashed in the Thailand jungle in 1991, killing 223 people, he says: "Those eight months until we knew the mistake was not ours but a construction failure were like hell."

Asked whether he sometimes cries, he says: "I sometimes cry watching films, [Clint Eastwood’s] ‘Million Dollar Baby’, for example. Or when I’m driving and there’s a romantic song on the radio."

Asked whether books affect him the same way, he reveals: "I don’t read. I hate to read books! When I go on holiday, I don’t take any books with me. And if you are wondering how much general knowledge I have, I will tell you: about zero."

Speaking about current business developments, Lauda says about the issue of almost bankrupt Austrian flagship carrier Austrian Airlines (AUA): "It’s the first case of its kind in history. It’s okay that AUA, which was managed catastrophically for years, is being sold to Lufthansa for 362,000 Euros. But that the government is putting another 500 million Euros in is incredible. If [the European Commission in] Brussels gives the deal a green light, I will need to come up with something."

Remaining with politics, he reveals: "I didn’t vote [at the last general elections in September 2008]. I expected the same big argument between SPÖ and ÖVP to continue with different faces. I don’t like the swing to the right, but I understand the young people – they are literally pushed there by the big parties."

Asked what his tombstone shall say one day, Lauda – who carries a kidney from his brother as well as one from his wife – replies: "Fly Niki."

Austrian Time



A three time world champ speaks out. Niki has always been confrontational and spoke his mind, Happy 60th Niki

 

I am trying to work out which bit of that interview was hitting out at Lewis Hamilton? Strange headline that serves no relevance.

 

Maybe you should contact Thomas Hochwarte, I'm sure he would like to hear your input.

 

What a strange article. He didn't crash in Monza in 1976. In fact i think that's where he made his comeback after crashing at the Nürburgring. This made me laugh too

what does he do with them?!

 

And why the hell would he want to hear my input?? A facts a fact. Point out to me if you would. Which bit of what you posted above is hitting out at LH. All i see is two sentences that is hardly hitting out at anyone.
And why would i want to contact Thomas Hochwarth any way? The article does not do the headlines justice any one can see that. I was expecting to read NL having a go at LH not vaguely mentioning his name in a passing comment about modern F1 drivers.

 

Asked about what differentiates today’s generation of Formula 1 drivers from the pilots of his active years, he says: "Back then, death was always an option. Today’s chaps have no idea. They drive go-karts until they turn 18 and then start their Formula One career. They know nothing apart from accelerating and handling the steering wheel."

Lauda adds: "They haven’t got a chance to develop a personality. The only kind of charisma someone like 22-year-old (2008 F1 champion) Lewis Hamilton has is his Ms Scherzinger (Hamilton’s girlfriend and singer with the girl group *****cat Dolls)."

From what I can see this is possibly what the author is refering to. But when it comes to Niki all bets are off.

 

So like i said, only two lines referring directly to LH Might as well have called the article " Lauda's brothers kidney". There's as much substance in that title than the one the author used.

 

Interesting article!

 

Lauda really sounds like a disgrunted old fart. His attitude towards everything is puzzling as life, other than his accident, has actually been very good to him from being a WDC to a successful entrpreneur.

 

Another idiotic thread title containing an idiotic article.

I never really cared about Laudas comments on anything (whether it be FIA management, driver skill, etc).

It is my opinion that someone who looks like a half-melted plastic soldier has to be bitterly affected by such an event, and must develop various complexes and disorders from that. And I think a person with those complexes and disorders can't possibly give unbiased or even particularly relevant commentary on F1.

Sort of like Piquet Sr or Rosberg Sr aren't going to have much to say worth listening to on driver commentary.

 

Right lads that's it. Everybody OUT! Nothing to see here. Shut the forums down it's all idiotic nonsense.

So according to you anyone who has ever "been there done that" has nothing of value to add? Bit of a Nihilist are we?

 

I have a totally new respect for Niki.Always did for winning 2 WDCs with the Scuderia (lets ignore that last one with the chromeboys,well okay back then red and white).I dont believe he hasnt touched Mary Jane since.

 

With only 100-some posts, I am not sure you have been here long enough to know the deal, but there are lots and lots of threads created with really stupid thread titles. To call this thread "Lauda hits out at Hamilton" is idiotic. It really is. As others pointed out, Niki said lots of things in the article, and made only one reference to Lewis, and it was really a blanket statement towards the current crop of F1 drivers, where he only used Lewis' name as an example. The article is entirely not about Lauda hitting out at Hamilton, so to title it as such is idiotic. As a previous poster said, it may as well be entitled "Lauda miraculously survives after kidney scare". Lewis, as the reigning World Champion, is probably more a target of such comments however, so it's not that surprising, but no less dumb.

You put words in my mouth and made a conclusion based on that, but the words you would in my mouth and conclusion are both clearly wrong. It's obvious that I was not saying anyone who has been there and done that has nothing to add, it is obvious that I meant that people who have an innate bias aren't people who are going to have relevant commentary on issues they are biased on. I don't take Bernies nor Lucas comments on the current fiscal state of F1 to be gospel, or even particularly relevant. I don't think Piquet Sr is going to be able to give a very honest review of driver talent either because I doubt he is going to say "Yep, my son pretty much sucks and has no business being in an F1 car".

Lauda was in F1 in a very different age. I also imagine he's quite bitter... but even if he's not, he doesn't have any experience being a driver in the sanitized-PR age of F1. The few times that drivers (ironically, Lewis is probably most 'guilty' of this over the past couple of years) have spoken out and said what they really think, they get crucified in the press. I like when drivers speak their minds... a few others do too. But not speaking their mind is definitely nothign specific to Hamilton... the very few times a driver HAS spoken their mind (remember Coulthards comments after Massa crashed him out), they very quickly get told (by their PR people) what they really meant to say and quickly 'clarify' their comments.

 

+1 But, it's even worse than that: ".....Hits out at newbie Hamilton.

He never said anything about LH being a noob but simply mentioned him "in passing" as an example of how things have changed since his day.

I sometimes like Niki's outspoken nature, and even enjoy reading some of his "thoughts" on occasion [Drivel in a lot of cases I agree....]

It's not his comments that are out of line, just the dumb title.

My 02c,
Cheers,
Ian

 

Errrm, you DO realize that was the title of the newspaper article don't you????

As for the ~100 posts so what? I've been lurking here for several years, been on other similar forums for many years including moderating some of them, I think I know how most forums work thanks.

 

If someone tells me to be careful of flocks of giant man-eating seagulls, then they are a moron. If I then run to you and give you the same warning.....


RE: Posts... with 100 posts, you haven't been much of a participant in this forum. Jim pretty much posts any article that has any negative Hamilton connotation. I believe he does this to aggravate those he considers Hamilton supporters. It certainly doesn't make me angry... on the contrary. It illustrates how upset he is over the fact that Hamilton is the WDC. I'm quite sure Hamilton and his gorgeous girlfriend aren't upset about it, and I'm certainly not upset that Massa lost the WDC, nor am I am upset that Jim is upset that Hamilton won... I find it amusing that it aggravates him so. Jim says it's just about posting the news... that's fine, although I believe it clutters the forum and serves no purpose, but the mods are the ones who decide and thus far they haven't decided it's too much clutter.

I will be curious if the # of article reposts with negative Hamilton verbiage increases or decreases depending on how Hamilton does in the 09 season. I don't like Massa, and I was laughing when I saw him crying on the podium... but even if he'd won, I'm pretty sure I'd have been OK with it within a few days. YMMV.

 

Mike!! the freaking thing nicked me fish n chips!!....

Oh boy roll on Melbourne...then we can have some real debate... and do us a favour Jim, change the theme this year..
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Next time feed him Alka-Seltzer that will take care of his heart burn

 

Jim, you causing problems again?

 

And what are you trying to pin on me this time

 

Just stick your hand into the grab-bag. You'll come up with something...

 

Steve,

you are MUCH smaller than I imagined!

 

Mike, thats not me I'am bigger, but not as big as you I think!!!..

You saw me with my dog once I posted on here ...you liked it!!...

Anyway Mike hope your doing fine mate..

Me is on ze left last week...
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Niki was officially my first hero as a kid.

I think with too much adoration and money anyone can loose touch with reality. Or maybe its just a different reality.
The guy seems to be F1's Marlon Brando/ now Joachin Phoenix.

 

Nor for me, but he was an embodiment of determination that I recognized. Mark Donahue was a bit of a hero for me as drivers went, though. Jim Clark? Now that guy was a hero for me when I was really young. Valentino Rossi is my current hero.....the guy is amazing.