Quotes from Niki Lauda

After my accident, I never worried about how I looked.

People always think that the worst time of my life must have been after the German Grand Prix crash in 1976, which put me in a coma and left me with severe burns. But it wasn't.

This aircraft tops everything. All the others look old as compared to this one.

I don't want to sound like a retrospective person stuck in the past, but the fact remains that, in my day, everything was in the hands of the driver - the gear changes, the delicate art of clutch control during race starts, managing engine revs during gear changes - everything.

For sure, when you are being beaten by your team-mate, it hurts.

The air travel industry moves into a new phase every five to six years.

One of the things that gave me most pleasure was a letter sent to me by Sebastian Vettel, written in his own hand, full of beautiful words and kindness. I wasn't expecting this; usually, drivers don't do this: they drive, and that's it. But he is a beautiful person.

I always knew about the risks I was taking. Every year, someone you knew was killed racing. You had to ask yourself, do you enjoy driving these cars so much that you're prepared to take that risk?

There are some good traditions in our culture, one of which is that men dance with women. Soon we will reach the stage where we will all have to publicly apologise for being heterosexual.

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.

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

I like the mode of business of aviation. It's a risky business with difficulties which you can fill with innovative ideas and different things.

We now fly with an airbus, which has 210 seats, six times the week to Palma to the spider of the air Berlin.

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.

Pressure is always on if you don't perform. There is no question.

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.

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 see myself as the mind of the business which takes care of every last detail; if you do not do this you cannot be fast enough.

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.

Vienna is the gate to Eastern Europe.

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.

Patience is a virtue in life, of course, but it's not something we F1 people have too much of.

I've learnt from my life experience.

I've been through a lot and I realise the future can't be controlled. I'm not worried. You can always learn to overcome difficulties.