Hamilton mourns Lauda a year on from three-time champion's death
Hamilton mourns Lauda a year on from three-time champion's death
Lewis Hamilton has paid an emotional tribute to Niki Lauda on the first anniversary of the death of the three-time Formula 1 world champion.
Lauda passed away in his sleep, aged 70, at a hospital in Zurich a year ago today (May 20) following a period of ill health.
Hamilton has hailed Lauda as one of the two people - alongside Ron Dennis - who has had the biggest impact on his career as it was the Austrian who ultimately persuaded the 35-year-old to leave McLaren and join Mercedes.
Hamilton said: "Niki is someone who I miss and who I think we all miss dearly.
"It is a difficult subject to talk about; someone you are so fond of, and someone that ultimately the world has lost, but I have only the greatest memories with Niki.
"Probably the fondest memories I have are from my first conversations. We started talking sometime in 2012 and I just remember being home during the day, having a call from Niki and he is trying to convince me to come to the team. It was very cool to have a call from a world champion and an icon like Niki."
That was the catalyst for Hamilton, who continued to be pursued by Lauda, even though at the time he felt the Austrian "didn’t necessarily value me as a driver - but he did".
The six-time champion added: "Then we sat together in Singapore. He came to my room and we had a good conversation.
"I think that was the time when Niki was like 'Oh my God, you are just like me in so many ways. We have actually a lot more in common than I anticipated and assumed'
"From then on, we had a really great relationship. We travelled together, I got to spend some time with him in Ibiza. He was such a positive, funny, entertaining guy, he always had the greatest stories to tell."
Lauda's influence on Hamilton, and Mercedes, continued on and off track.
"He was a natural-born racer," assessed Hamilton. "He was always thinking about how we can improve.
"The greatest sign from Niki was if you did the job, he would take off his hat. That was him saying, ‘Well done!’ It wasn’t the easiest for him to compliment you, so that would be it for him, to take off his hat.
"We would talk often after the races and he would be asking things like, ‘Hey, Lewis, what do you need to be better? What do you need?’ He was always chasing.
"If I was to learn anything from him it would be that. As a driver and within a team you naturally have to work together but you have to lead it. You have to lead the team, you have to ask the questions, you have to really dig deep and push everybody.
"Niki kind of taught me how to approach that in a working environment and I like to think that I am able to apply that to every day, my everyday racing life."
Hamilton has conceded to feeling "so privileged" to have known and worked with Lauda, and especially for the persuasive powers that resulted in him joining Mercedes where he was won five of his six world titles.
Hamilton added: "I look at Niki as an incredible, supportive role model.
"With Niki, convincing me to come to a team that at the time had a lot of success to come. To a place where you are welcomed into an environment, given space to grow and given the space to be you and not try to change you.
"Whilst it takes people some time to get used to the concept of what is different in life, I think a lot of people are afraid of what is different but you should never shy away from what is different. That is often one of the key elements that help bring change.
"I am grateful for the opportunity and forever love Niki. I know he is with us every race in spirit."
Before you go...
How Hamilton is coping with his "shock to the system" of no Formula 1
Wolff: Lauda taught me to "never give up"
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Verstappen makes HUGE Newey admission as F1 champion ponders Red Bull exit
- 22 minutes ago
F1 team responds after 'FIA request on Imola driver swap' claims
- 1 hour ago
Newey breaks silence and REVEALS real reason behind shock Red Bull departure
- 2 hours ago
F1 Sprint Race Today: Miami Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- 3 hours ago
Ricciardo admits WILD Miami F1 drive nearly ended in disaster twice
- Today 08:57
F1 News Today: Hamilton reaction sparks Newey Ferrari rumours as F1 star rejects rival offer
- Today 06:57
F1 Race Calendar 2024
-
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP AUSTRALIA
22 - 24 Mar
Carlos Sainz
-
GP JAPAN
5 - 7 Apr
Max Verstappen
-
GP CHINA
19 - 21 Apr
Max Verstappen
- GP USA 3 - 5 May
- GP ITALY 17 - 19 May
- GP MONACO 24 - 26 May
- GP CANADA 7 - 9 Jun
- GP SPAIN 21 - 23 Jun
- GP AUSTRIA 28 - 30 Jun
Related news
Hamilton suffers Miami F1 sprint nightmare after hitting wall
F1 pundit opens up on 'most romantic story' in Hamilton's career
Hamilton salutes New York after making F1 HISTORY
Ecclestone ATTACKS Hamilton 'ego' after Ferrari move
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860