Eddie Jordan recalls playing matchmaker for Niki Lauda and Lewis Hamilton over 2013 Mercedes switch
Eddie Jordan recalled that he was the secret messenger of Niki Lauda that helped convince Lewis Hamilton to join Mercedes back in 2013.
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Niki Lauda and Lewis Hamilton (via Planetf1), Eddie Jordan (in circle, via IMAGO)
Lewis Hamilton joined Mercedes back in 2013 as a majority of the people berated the shocking switch. The then Ex-Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda (late) was the mastermind behind convincing Hamilton to take the leap. The Briton joined the team on Lauda’s conviction and never looked back in terms of performance. However, the Ex-F1 team owner Eddie Jordan revealed a shocking detail that was left out over the years.
Niki Lauda was the person who influenced Lewis Hamilton to join Mercedes, which ultimately helped him win six World Championships, making him equal to Michael Schumacher’s seven titles record. However, Lauda wasn’t the only one responsible for making this move possible.
Eddie Jordan recalled that he used to be the secret messenger to Hamilton from Lauda. Jordan pointed out that the Austrian would push him into the McLaren garage to talk to the Briton and do the messaging. The reason for this was that the late legend was so closely tied to Mercedes that he couldn’t be seen in the rival garage.
Niki Lauda used to push me into McLaren to go and speak to Lewis, to do all the little messaging for him, because he couldn’t do it because of the connection [with Mercedes]. He was so strongly involved with Mercedes.
Eddie Jordan said on the Formula For Success podcast
Lewis Hamilton gifted a special helmet to Toto Wolff remembering Niki Lauda
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton were partaking in the mega farewell activities following the culmination of the 2024 season. Hamilton had an extremely emotional reaction towards his last race as a Silver Arrow. Hence, following the end of his stint, the Briton gifted his Niki Lauda tribute helmet from 2019 to Toto Wolff as a parting gift. The 53-year-old was appreciative of the gift as he received the most special one.
I think he’s given me his most special one. When Niki Lauda died, who we were very close, both of us, he made a Niki Lauda design helmet for the Monaco race in 2019. So he gave me the Niki Lauda Memorial helmet for the Monaco race win, and he wrote something nice on it.
Toto Wolff told Autosport
Hamilton has a very lucrative season coming up with Ferrari after leaving Mercedes. The 39-year-old is leaving a massive legacy behind him as he will always be remembered as a Mercedes star. Regardless, life goes on as the seven-time world champion will aim to take Maranello back to their championship-winning ways.
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Aditya Pandya
(1464 Articles Published)