Niki Lauda Quotes

“A race isn’t won until it’s over.”

“Taking your first title is much more complicated and more difficult; it takes years of work – from go-kart to Formula One. The second comes more easily, because you’ve already got the experience.”

“The less you talk, the more time you have for the essential things.”

“When things change a lot, some guys handle the change better than others, but that doesn’t mean the guys that take longer to get the hang of things are suddenly slow drivers!”

“Really, you should always discuss the defeats because you can learn much more from failure than from success.”

“Ultimately, an aircraft owner does not want to have to deal with all the intricate details which are necessary for the business.”

“Business is much less transparent than a win in a Grand Prix; in a race you drive over the finishing line first and you have won. In business it is different.”

“I said then and later that I had conquered my fear quickly and cleanly. That was a lie. But it would have been foolish to play into the hands of my rivals by confirming my weakness. At Monza, I was rigid with fear.”

“You must always aim for further growth.”

“When you have something in black and white, you can deal with it quicker.”

“To make a decision you need to be in a perfect environment: you have to be motivated and surrounded by the right people.”

“Giving up is something a Lauda doesn’t do.”

“When you have the chance to fight for victory or a podium finish, you have the motivation to push that extra bit out of yourself.”

“I always go extreme ways.”

“I am someone who places great value on the detail. That was always the case, even in my days as a racing driver.”

“Whenever there is discussion, I make it clear that I do not want any grey zones, just black and white.*
Grey zones do not interest me at all.”

“I always want to know whether the customers are satisfied; customer satisfaction is, after all, my ultimate goal!”

“I’ve been through a lot and I realize the future can’t be controlled. I’m not worried. You can always learn to overcome difficulties.”

“Whenever I see something that challenges me, I take it on.”

“I want to bring passengers on my airplanes to present to them my product.”

“I see myself as a classic middle market entrepreneur, and this is the role I fulfil.”