24 replies to this topic

[LeD]

Usually the Italians panic in such situations.

(From Atlas F1 and Der Blick, on the subject of the Ferrari mechanics' prompt atcions in putting out MS's fire)

I always thought Lauda was a tosser, and now I have the proof of it.

[BorderReiver]

Anyone who takes offense at the above remark obviously doesn't understand Lauda's sense of humour, he's always been one for the wry comment. Do you honestly think a man who's history is so weaved into the Ferrari mythos and indeed worked for them as a pit lane advisor would make such a comment genuinly?

Don't forget after the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix where Roger Williamson was killed the press villified Lauda for some of his comments, which later turned out to be directed towards a singular journalist who had been going for a sensasionalist scoop, real ghoul fodder.

I think of all the men involved in F1 currently Lauda is in perhaps the best position to talk about fire safety. . .just a thought.

[agni]

"Michael knew that his overalls would hold the fire much longer than the ones I had in my days. He could have stayed in the cockpit for much longer before he would look like me."

Here is another part from the same interview. He is poking fun at himself. Do you still think he is a tosser?

[BorderReiver]

Judging by LeD's snap shots he probably isn;t even aware that Lauda drove anything. . .

[Jordan191]

If ANYONE has room to talk about that incident it's Lauda. and yes I get thge joke.

I agree. looking at the incident from the helicam I thought the Ferrari mechanics were awesome. That dude with the extinguisher who was behind the car was fast.

And MS sitting calm in the car. Add that to that pic of him walking back from a crashed Ferrari in testing. erm I'm beginning to think he was sent back from the futur-erm never mind.;)

[logic]

Originally posted by LeD
Usually the Italians panic in such situations.

Erm, how many italians are in the pit crew. Maybe the one is italian who was seen in TV to ran off there in panic

[SpeakerGuru]

Originally posted by LeD
Usually the Italians panic in such situations

He's being lighthearted.

If he was trying to be derogatory he would have called them "spaghetti's", like he has in the past. I always got a kick out of that.

Like BR said, Lauda always has had a biting wit. In addition, Lauda is especially qualified to comment about Ferrari. Lord knows he paid his dues there. He & Di Montizemolo together brought the team back to prominence in the 70's. Despite how he was treated by them after Fuji in '76 he still found time for them after he quit driving for them in '77. I think it's probably because he and Luca D are close, but in any case Niki Lauda is a member of the Ferrari "family" and has a fair amount of leeway.

[LeD]

Well, I have watched Lauda pontificating many times on Austrian and other German language TV channels, and I formed my opinion of him as a tosser long before MS's car caught fire - but that's only my opinion, which I believe it is my right to; as indeed applies to contrary opnions.

As for his unfortunate experience with fire in the past, it would be rash to assume, Mr BorderReiver, that I am ignorant of Lauda's history. Rash indeed.

And as for his sense of humour, I would have to dig deep to find a belly laugh in his comments on the Italian propensity to run in the face of fire; it's all a bit passé, frankly.....and I really don't believe that this was an example of 'wryness'.

[BorderReiver]

Then you Mr LeD appear to be in a minority.

[Mox]

Surely these remarks are right up there with Schumachers statement about Montoya being too lazy to walk back to the pits after blowing his engine.

It's all in good fun - and in the case of Lauda, even with MASSIVE irony.

[Aubwi]

Say, wasn't there a certain Italian driver who pulled Niki out of his flaming wreck at the 'Ring? I don't recall his name. Maybe Niki was being sarcastic.

[BorderReiver]

Arturo Merzario, or little Art, great sportscar driver I seem to recall.

Well spotted Aubwi. Tongue firmly in cheek from Mr Lauda there. . .

[masterhit]

Er, having read Niki's books, I suspect that he meant it. He really is like that, sadly.

But he certainly was a good driver, nothing can ever take that away from him, not even his own words!

[BorderReiver]

I've read Niki's books too master, and I'm at a loss to explain why you think that. I'm not saying that your wrong, but could you please point me in the way of a few examples?

[masterhit]

Don't have them on hand, but he describes his own Austrian poorer class as peasants, spoke poorly of the French regarding Renault and Ligier in the 1980's etc. When he got fired from Jag he said it was because he was not British, and he once praised Schumacher saying he is Germanic.

Stuff like that, it's everywhere with Niki.

[ehagar]

Ferrari hasn't always been so organized and calm... hell, look at the difference between Porsche and Ferrari at Le Mans in the 60s.

Ferrari looked like a political nightmare.

[Oachkatzlschwoaf]

Originally posted by masterhit
Don't have them on hand, but he describes his own Austrian poorer class as peasants, spoke poorly of the French regarding Renault and Ligier in the 1980's etc. When he got fired from Jag he said it was because he was not British, and he once praised Schumacher saying he is Germanic.

Stuff like that, it's everywhere with Niki.

well, what can i say, austrians are like that ;)

[D. Heimgartner]

That's what comes about when you have neighbors that are bloodthirsty, historically much more important, highly-intelligent, and super productive in a diverse array of high-tech fields, not to mention our cows make better milk!

[MarkWRX]

Why doesn't he just shut up? Does anyone really care what Niki Lauda has to say about Formula 1? It's not like he's done anything for the sport lately, except make Jaguar a worse team than it already was. On second thought, he hired Mark Webber, so that's a positive. Now he makes this comment:

"First, they had refuelling problems, and then the fire. Usually the Italians panic in such situations. This time they remained cool and solved it perfectly, just like Michael did in the car."

That is a borderline bigoted comment and I can't believe someone hasn't called him on it.

Mark

[D. Heimgartner]

It's a different generations, and some Europeans especially have the tendency to stereotype and belittle those of different nationalities. Personally, I find the hyper-sensitivity some individuals exhibit as frustrating as those who engage in stereotyping and the such.

[MJP]

Originally posted by D. Heimgartner
It's a different generations, and some Europeans especially have the tendency to stereotype and belittle those of different nationalities. Personally, I find the hyper-sensitivity some individuals exhibit as frustrating as those who engage in stereotyping and the such.

Naming or associating Europeans with this behaviour is an act of stereotyping on its own, Mr. Heimgartner. Some people, including those from Americas, are guilty of it as well, when they say: "...those Europeans...”

Belittling Europeans and Catholics is weekly commonplace on American networks, especially during Sunday political debates, by the way. (Just for your information). It’s not unique therefore to Europeans.

[ruther]

[ruther]

Originally posted by MarkWRX
Why doesn't he just shut up? Does anyone really care what Niki Lauda has to say about Formula 1?

So, why don´t WE shut up? Does anyone really care what we have to say about Formula 1, including me and you?!

[philhitchings]

Originally posted by ruther


So, why don´t WE shut up? Does anyone really care what we have to say about Formula 1, including me and you?!

............................................................................;)

[Robbie]

Funny enough he defended the decision to hire Pizzonia recently saying that he's "very cool headed for a Brazilian".

Lauda's an old guy who thinks the way people used to about national stereotypes.

Typical Austrian bigot.;)