Lewis Hamilton Reflects on Niki Lauda's Enduring Legacy and Unique Advice

Why it matters

Lewis Hamilton continues to honor F1 legend Niki Lauda, especially as Ferrari celebrates the 50th anniversary of Lauda's first Formula 1 title. Hamilton's tribute, recalling deeply personal memories and unique advice, underscores the profound impact Lauda had on his career and approach to racing.

The big picture

Hamilton shared a new social media post dedicated to Niki, recreating an iconic photo of the former Ferrari driver at an Italian track. His caption, "Dedicato a Niki" ("Dedicated to Niki"), highlights a connection that transcends team loyalties, spanning his time at Mercedes and now influencing his highly anticipated move to Ferrari.

The details

Hamilton and Lauda shared an extraordinary bond, with Lauda serving as Mercedes' non-executive chairman and co-owner. Hamilton recounted his initial surprise at Lauda's Ferrari history when joining the Scuderia:

• "When I joined Ferrari, I hadn’t even thought of Niki having driven at Ferrari. It was literally just because, as a kid, I watched Michael Schumacher and was a big fan of the team."
• "I always looked at the reaction from the crowd every time Ferrari was on the podium – the passion was like no other team. I wanted to feel what that was like."
• "Now having joined the team and learning more about the history, it’s amazing this weekend, because I got to celebrate Niki at Mercedes, I got to celebrate winning championships with him, and now to be able to come to Ferrari and celebrate him here too."

Lauda's unique wisdom

Hamilton cherishes Lauda's memory, often hearing his voice in his mind. He revealed a special, no-nonsense saying Lauda used to tell him:

• "His legacy continues to live on. I know what he would be saying to me nowadays, and he’s always in the back of my mind, that thought."
• "When I didn’t do well, he would do this and he’d tell me to 'give them hell' – but he would always say the word 'a***holes'!"
• "I never understood it at first. I’d say 'what do you mean? Do you mean give them hell?' and he would say no 'give them a***holes!'. But he was just such a fighter," Hamilton concluded, emphasizing Lauda's unyielding spirit and direct approach.