Watson (left) with Lauda at the South African GP at Kyalami in 1978
They raced against each other for many years and together in Formula 1 for three seasons but throughout there remained a strong mutual bond between Niki Lauda and John Watson that defused the competitive tension.
“I think it’s a reflection of the era in which we grew up,” Watson says. “We first met in 1971, when we were competing in European F2. We were part of a band of brothers, travelling from one event to the next, eating in the same restaurants, staying in the same hotels – much quainter than the horrible big things grand prix teams use today. It was very easy to develop friendships and Niki and I always got along well.