Quotes from Niki Lauda

I hate being famous. You have no freedom. You can't do anything.

Millions around the world see Formula One as the pinnacle of motorsport, and I firmly believe that we should do whatever it takes to keep this accolade. Traction control, automatic gear changes, and launch control isn't my definition of the 'pinnacle of motorsport.'

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

Happiness is an enemy. It weakens you. Suddenly, you have something to lose.

A lot of people criticize Formula 1 as an unnecessary risk. But what would life be like if we only did what is necessary?

You appreciate that it is very easy to die and you have to arrange your life to cope with that reality.

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

I always go extreme ways.

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

From success, you learn absolutely nothing. From failure and setbacks conclusions can be drawn. That goes for your private life as well as your career.

Cosmetic surgery - it's boring and expensive, and the only thing it could do is give me another face.

There is no friendship out there. When you race, you have to fight. That's it.

We have moved away from basic racing, where you see how the drivers fight with the cars to their physical limits and then make mistakes - or not.

When I was in motor racing, I had taken the decision to risk my life. But when you run an airline, and more than 200 people want to go from A to B - and they don't arrive - that's a different responsibility.

Running an airline is the most difficult job in the world. Racing was more dangerous for my life.

Running an airline is a normal job. Racing is more.

In racing, you want to win - there are no rules, and you can do whatever you want. Flying a plane is the opposite: you respect rules and fly to the rules. You can't possibly compare the two.

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.

Giving up is something a Lauda doesn't do.

People say that F1 is blessed with the 'best drivers in the world,' but I want to witness the 'total best drivers in the world,' and this means taking away the elements that make their job easier.

The crucial point is always the own cost structure. Therefore I created a Low Cost alliance with air Berlin.

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

I fought my grandfather like you wouldn't believe. I went my own way and decided to become a racing driver. I don't think I would ever have fought as hard as I did if my grandfather had been a reasonable person.

My life is worth more than a title.