F1 News
Hamilton reveals how Lauda coaxed him to Mercedes
A lot of tributes have been paid to Niki Lauda recently following the legendary Austrian's death last week, aged 70, and Lewis Hamilton has shed light on how Lauda convinced him to join Mercedes for the 2013 season.
The decision to join Mercedes is undoubtedly the best in Hamilton's career, as four world titles have followed in the six full seasons since his switch from McLaren.
We knew Lauda was a major player in the move, but Hamilton has revealed exactly the role he played.
Hamilton said after Sunday's race: “I remember getting a call from Niki in 2012 and we had never really spoken. So he’s on the phone and he’s like: No, you should come to Mercedes. This is where you need to be.
“I had always talked about how Ross was the convincing element in me coming to the team, because when I went and sat down with him, he explained what the team were doing, where they were going, their plans. Mercedes and I truly believed in that vision.
“But Niki was the one who brought it to me and got it across the line. And in all of these years, he’s kind of been my partner in crime."
