Niki Lauda interviews prior to his comeback in 1982

Back in 1982 the motor racing world was abuzz with news that the then two- time world champ, Niki Lauda was about to make a surprise return with McLaren.

The first video features Niki during a test at Donington Park before any news of a comeback was official and he’s giving nothing away. When asked “What about these rumours that you may be returning to Grand Prix Formula 1 racing sponsored by Parmalat?” Lauda replies, “I’m at Donington because as a  Sunday driver I drive on Sundays and today is Wednesday and I like to drive on a Wednesday that’s about it.”

In the second video conducted during pre season testing at Kyalami in 1982, Lauda is no less forthright. When asked “Now of course you are reunited with your old partner from Brabham, John Watson, um, how are the pair of you going to race now, who’s number one and who’s number two, have you sorted that out?  Niki replies ” Well to be honest I never asked who is number one and number two, because I don’t care what number I am, the most important thing is that I get all the good bits and pieces and that’s what I’m getting.”

The Austrian immmediately resumes his winning ways, by taking victory in just the the third Grand Prix of the ’82 season at Long Beach and won again at Silverstone and finished the season in a steady 5th place. Of course he famously went on to claim the third of his world titles in 1984, by beating Alain Prost by just half a point. He then retired for good in 1985.