Niki Lauda has recalled how one "important piece" of Mercedes' utter dominance this year was actually put in place in 2012. And the F1 legend, now Mercedes' team chairman, credits not only McLaren but also god.
It was in late 2012 that Lauda was trying to convince the British driver Lewis Hamilton, now the 2014 world champion, to quit McLaren and join the burgeoning Mercedes team. "McLaren wanted to keep him and had offered him a contract," Lauda told Austrian radio O3 this week. "So I asked if I could see him the next day. That was the day of the race on Sunday."
The triple world champion is referring to Singapore 2012, where Hamilton was driving one of the best cars in the field, and on Sunday was cruising to the win. "Before the race," Lauda recalled, "I said that I needed to watch Lewis get off the (drivers' parade) truck and look in his eyes. I had sent him a text message in the morning asking if he wanted to come to us or not, but he didn't even look at me. He ignored me and walked straight past. I thought 'Oh dear'," Lauda admitted.
Then in the race, Hamilton was easily leading when Lauda, standing in the paddock, resorted to a plea for divine intervention. "I said to myself 'Dear god, if you want to help me just once, then please let the McLaren break down now'. I thought it twice and then 'Bang!' I immediately bombarded Lewis with text messages. Three weeks later, we signed the contracts," Lauda beamed. "This was one of the important pieces in the puzzle of why we were so successful this year." (GMM)
Lauda prayed for McLaren breakdown in 2012
- Published on 03 Dec 2014 10:28
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
Former Ferrari driver fears Hamilton has broken Leclerc's confidenceCharles Leclerc is facing a crisis of confidence at Ferrari, according to former Scuderia driver René Arnoux, ...
23 Jun 2026 12:15 -
Bortoleto says Audi chassis strong but engine costs over a second per lapGabriel Bortoleto has delivered a candid assessment of Audi's first season as a Formula 1 factory team, revealing...
23 Jun 2026 16:22 -
Why Vowles believes both drivers will commit to struggling WilliamsJames Vowles has declared his confidence that Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon will remain with Williams through 2027, eve...
23 Jun 2026 15:20 -
Why Cadillac is standing firmly behind Sergio PérezSergio Pérez is receiving strong backing from Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon, who has praised the Mexic...
23 Jun 2026 14:19 -
Why Antonelli refuses to be called 'the new Senna'Andrea Kimi Antonelli has pushed back against early comparisons to Ayrton Senna, despite a strong rookie campaign wit...
23 Jun 2026 13:17
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
Driver profile
- Team Ferrari
- Points 3,648
- Podiums 136
- Grand Prix 239
- Country United Kingdom
- Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (41)
- Place of b. Tewin, United Kingdom
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.74 m
- 483,715 comments on Ferrari
66 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Lewis Hamilton
Team profile
- Team name Mercedes
- Base Brackley, Germany
- Michael Schumacher 3
- Nico Rosberg 4
- Nico Rosberg 6
- Michael Schumacher 7
- Nico Rosberg 8
- Nico Rosberg 8
- Nico Rosberg 9
- Lewis Hamilton 10
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli 12
- Lewis Hamilton 44
- George Russell 63
- Valtteri Bottas 77
- 636,173 comments on Mercedes
- 59 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Mercedes
Replies (0)
Login to reply