Question: Niki, what was the reason for your return and what do you think is Michael’s?
Niki Lauda: Let’s leave aside my reasons - that’s all too long ago and they definitely were different from his. Let’s focus on Michael. He was never able to detox himself of the racing bug, as we have seen with his on-track motorcycle activities. In my opinion he retired at the end of the 2006 season because he couldn’t see a real challenge - and probably he regretted his decision. Now he’s got the unique chance to step in for the injured Massa to help his former team, and to find out for himself how competitive he still is. This is something that would also interest me, because this hunger for competition - for the adrenalin rush - never dies. It’s in our DNA. And the situation as it is now at Ferrari, with a recovering Massa and an available cockpit, gives him the chance to explore how far he’s off the top. That is a question that always puzzles a top driver like he was.
Question: Fitness plays a major role. Michael was exercising all the time - how was it with you back then?
Niki Lauda: Yes, Michael has tried to retain as much as possible his fitness from his race days. Look, he was able to put in a whole day in the old car in Mugello a few days ago. With me it was different. I hadn’t done anything for two years and when I did my first test in October 1981 I hardly managed three laps. That was a sharp signal for me that I’d better start improving my fitness immediately if my return to Formula One was not to end as a farce. So this was a whole different situation to the one that Michael is in. Basically, he has to focus mainly on the muscles that are called on in an F1 car - and, of course, the neck - but that should be manageable in the next two weeks. But in the end the final word will be with the doctors, to decide whether he is in the physical state to race.
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