"There is no fair play in F1“ - “There is only one aim: to be the first”

Niki Lauda, corporate ambassador for Oerlikon, interviewed by Adrian Wilson.

AW: Being a sports legend and expert on racing you know how difficult it is to win the pole position. What does it take to achieve this competitive edge not only once but to be constantly in the lead?
NL: It is very difficult to be one step ahead and it is only possible by perfection, team work and speed. You have to work constantly on staying in the lead.

AW: Can this philosophy be transferred to the competition of companies?
NL: Yes, only the faster one can be the best.

AW: In high-tech companies as well as in racing all that matters are top performances, every millimetre and every millisecond counts. But does „fair play” also count vice-versa? What kind of role models can stars and industry leaders be in particular? To what extent can they justify “sportsmanship”, if at all – without losing their leadership position?
NL: There is no real fair play in F1. The races are basically performed by egocentric drivers who only have this one ambition: to be the first.

AW: What role does technology play in racing nowadays, what role does the driver play? Who is responsible in the end for the decisive competitive advantage and the victory of the competition? Man or machine?
NL: Without humans, machines will not work and without the perfection of machines humans cannot work. This is my preferred order.

AW: You have also suffered some set-backs in your career How did you manage to return to the top?
NL: I have always analysed those set-backs and drawn my consequences to make it better in future and to never give up.

(Geneva, 15. April 2008)