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Lukas Lauda Shares Quiet Side of Niki Lauda in New Interview

His eldest son offers rare, first-hand glimpses of the private figure behind the champion.

Overview

  • Lukas Lauda recounts in Corriere della Sera how he first grasped his father's fame on Ibiza in 1983 when strangers lined up for autographs.
  • He says Niki avoided talking about racing at home, instead dedicating his time to family and instilling humility, politeness, punctuality and a no‑excuses mindset.
  • A remembered scene in Seattle shows Niki removing his trademark cap when asked at a restaurant and later shrugging off apologies by saying rules are rules.
  • Lukas recalls staying close to his father through his final months in 2019, with coverage revisiting Niki's kidney transplants from his brother Florian and wife Birgit and a later lung transplant.
  • Though he never pursued pro racing, Lukas keeps a motorsport connection and fulfilled a personal goal by entering the 2024 Dakar Rally in a buggy.