Today is a sad day for the automotive world, saying goodbye to one of its most winning and capable Champions: Niki Lauda.
Nicknamed “the Computer” for its details analysis speed and coldness, this attitude characterized him on the track as well in his life.
Still shocked by the news, we, ItalianWatchSpotter, want to dedicate him this article. Why? Because he taught us to get back up when we fall, no matter how much it hurts.
As watch lovers, we love mechanics: wether it is inside a 42 mm case or under a monoseater’s trunk, and we’ll always remember who made it great!
Winner of three Formula 1 World Championships and 25 Grand Prix, it’s considered one of the best pilots in history.
Sadly thought, when we think of Lauda, we immediately recall the images from that devastating accident at Nürburgring, 1st of August 1976, that left him disfigured for ever.
Already a dangerous track by itself, that day the wet asphalt pushed many pilots to ask for a race cancellation, including the reigning champion, Niki Lauda.
After a few laps, Lauda loses control of the car and crash on a boulder, loosing his helmet. The car bounces on the track and catches fire, imprisoning Lauda, still conscious.
Just a few seconds and another pilot passes by, Arturo Merzario, that doesn’t hesitate any second to stop and help his colleague, instead of taking advantage and overtake him. Jumping in the burning gasoline and performing artificial respiration (learned during his military service), he saved Lauda, that arrived to the hospital in desperate conditions.
After just 42 days, Lauda was back on the track with bleeding burns on his face and barely opened eyelids, but determined to win.
Not a thanks, not even a greeting. Niki and Merzario didn’t like each other: one being discreet, the other being exuberant, always wearing his cowboy hat. Merzario didn’t hide his resentment about Lauda’s behaviour.
Three weeks later, after a race in Austria, Lauda went visit Merzario and took off his watch, to gift it to him.
After a first glance at that gold Rolex Datejust, Merzario threw it away offended, telling Lauda to take it back, knowing it was a gift from and old girlfriend that Lauda didn’t care about.
The watch was then picked up by Alfa Romeo mechanics, that pleased Arturo Merzario to accept the gift.
The story would become famous and for many years Merzario didn’t forgive Niki Lauda, even saying he hate him because he couldn’t wear his rolex anymore, being constantly asked “Is that the Rolex from Lauda?”.
Many years later, Lauda and Merzario got back in touch and eventually became friends. In an interview about their reconciliation, the Italian pilot said “Who took the watch? We promised not to reveal it”.
We decided to include a little piece of his collection, hoping to keep his memory alive.
Beside the famous Datejust, during his amazing career, we saw him wearing several watches.
