Lauda urged Hamilton to leave McLaren for Mercedes
As a key player in the negotiations between Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, Niki Lauda doesn't hide the fact that he helped convince the Briton to make the leap, with a role at the German brand at stake.
An iconic figure in the paddock, triple world champion with Ferrari in 1975 and 1977 and then with McLaren in 1984, Niki Lauda was known for his scathing comments in the world of Formula 1, where no one was spared, starting with Lewis Hamilton. Despite everything, the Austrian appears to have played an important role in the summer transfer that saw the McLaren driver leave his long-time team for Mercedes ahead of the 2013 season. Lauda first defends himself in an interview with BBC Radio Five: “He had a clear plan, and I didn’t have to convince him.”
« I was impressed by his approach to things, very pragmatic, without any emotion, » a compliment from a man who, both in his career as a driver and in his off-track endeavors, has always been seen as a model of pragmatism and composure. « The real question was: “Why would I leave a competitive car where my life will be simpler in the future? »
A question to which Niki Lauda did help provide an answer: « My argument was: “If you’re looking for a new challenge, then, frankly, Mercedes is the ideal team.” Think about it, if Schumacher couldn’t bring the team to the forefront for three years and you do better the following year, it will have a huge impact on your personality, and people will consider you even more. In the end, it convinced him that it was the challenge he wanted. »
Regarding the financial aspect of such negotiations, the three-time world champion doesn’t make a big deal out of it: I wasn’t really involved in the financial discussions. Not involved, but still aware: Money wasn’t the issue. The offer was very close to McLaren’s. Ultimately, the fact is he was looking for a new challenge.
A search for a challenge that divides the F1 world, but one that Lauda has no difficulty explaining: « I understand it because when you drive for six years for the same team and the same people, you get used to each other. It works for him because he has won a championship and he wins races, but despite everything, a new challenge, with new people… you learn different things and different approaches. It’s something very interesting for a competitive guy like Lewis. »
Competitive, yes. But to what extent? « I think he is, even in a bad car, the best driver in the world because he is incredibly fast. He makes no compromises. So, if Hamilton joins the team next year, I can tell you it will be a big step forward in terms of speed. »
Niki Lauda, whose role in the negotiations with Hamilton and also in the negotiations for the ratification by Mercedes of the Concorde Agreements, has opened wide the doors to the star brand’s organizational chart, with an upcoming position as non-executive chairman of the board (according to our colleagues at Crash.net), emphasizes the equal treatment of the 2013 lineup: There is no No.1 or No.2. There is enough money at Mercedes to prepare two cars in exactly the same way. And what I am eagerly waiting to see is Hamilton pushing Nico Rosberg to go faster and Nico pushing Hamilton to go faster. That’s really what you need in a team.
