Quotes

[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.