- [re making of Rush (2013)] I had been approached before, but the ideas always seemed to me boring. Peter Morgan and Ron Howard - these are the right people. Ron Howard had no idea about racing. He was like a little kid, with unbelievable enthusiasm. But the story comes very well across.
- [re his injuries after famous 1976 accident] At the time I was upset by how people reacted. They wouldn't look me in the eye, which I thought was rude. But I have to say I was startled by the movie and I understand now. [Rival racer James] Hunt used to say to me: 'Niki, you're lucky. Some people are just born ugly, but you have the excuse of an accident.'
- I always go extreme ways.
- There are more important things in life than the world championship, like staying alive.
- A lot of people criticize Formula 1 as an unnecessary risk. But what would life be like if we only did what is necessary?
- This aircraft tops everything. All the others look old as compared to this one.
- The alliance with air Berlin is attractive for me. I can use the whole sales network of the air Berlin and 24 percent of my own airline at air Berlin sold.
- You appreciate that it is very easy to die and you have to arrange your life to cope with that reality.
- 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.
- I employ 20 people in Vienna. The other 130 coworkers are pilots and flight companions. The Overhead is limited with me. Reduces naturally the costs of my fliers.
- I want to bring passengers on my airplanes to present to them my product.
- Vienna is the gate to Eastern Europe.
- In Germany air became generally accepted Berlin in this area. It operated with 45 airplanes within the Low Cost range from Germany, and is one the most successful carriers in Europe.
- Airlines go in the long run at the competition to reason. For the passenger the competition is good, because each competitor tries to undercut the other one.
- Happiness is an enemy. It weakens you. Suddenly, you have something to lose.
- The crucial point is always the own cost structure. Therefore I created a Low Cost alliance with air Berlin.
- Running an airline is a normal job. Racing is more.
- Giving up is something a Lauda doesn't do.
- Jean Todt's system will never succeed, not even with Michael Schumacher
- When I started out as a racing driver, I needed a credit after I had lost a sponsor last minute. My contract with the racing team was supposed to involve me having a sponsor who pays 2 million Austrian schilling. I had also arranged everything with the bank already, the executive board had approved it already. [But] my grandfather was this bank's chairman. When he was meant to sign my sponsoring agreement, he asked, "Is this my Niki Lauda? [If so] it is out of the question." And then, the old Lauda refused to approve it.
- My grandfather simply thought a Lauda belongs in the economy and not in a Formula 1 car. Racing was not an option for him. When I asked him why he had messed everything up for me now, he said: I don't want you to become a racing driver and that's that. He was a very, let's say despotic grandfather. I then also became estranged from him. And got myself the money in the form of a credit.
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