F1 | Ferrari, Vettel: "Lauda was a unique person, thanks to drivers like him we have safe cars"

Sebastian Vettel, discussing with the media present today in Monte Carlo, expressed his personal memory of Niki Lauda, ​​who died yesterday at the age of 70.

"I am privileged, not for having met him but also for having spoken to him many times – underlined the German -. His sense of humor was direct, it was not clear whether on some occasions he was joking or speaking seriously. He was a unique person".

On the letter he wrote to Lauda last December, while the Austrian was struggling with rehabilitation following the lung transplant, Vettel said: “It was a sign of respect for everything he did. If today we have safe single-seaters we owe it to drivers like him. He was a real person, a real driver and a fan of this sport. He is leaving a big void".

Then shifting attention to the track and the problems affecting the SF90, particularly regarding the use of tyres, the Ferrari standard bearer said: “There is always something to learn, this year the tires are different and we are struggling more than the others. I am very sensitive and extremely difficult to understand".

Concluding he added: “We are doing our best to improve for the next few weeks and next year".

Piero Ladisa

Follow @PieroLadisa