Brooke Johnston

Italian Journalist: How are you feeling, Niki?

Niki Lauda: Fine.

American Journalist: Niki, can you confirm to us exactly which procedures you've had and the expectations for your recovery?

Niki Lauda: Sure. I had a skin graft operation, where they put half my right thigh in my face. Now it doesn't look too good, but one unexpected advantage is it's impossible to perspire through a skin graft, so sweat will never run into my eyes again, which is good for a driver.

[laughter from the journalists]

Spanish Journalist: [Raises hand] When they heard about your condition, Ferrari immediately hired a replacement driver, Carlos Reutemann.

Niki Lauda: Yeah. Before even reaching the hospital.

German Journalist: Is Reutemann driving today, too?

Niki Lauda: Yes, and keen to make an impression. So let's see where Mr. Reutemann finishes and where I finish today.

American Journalist: James Hunt and McLaren have caught up a lot while you were away.

Niki Lauda: Yes. So is there a question now, or are you just trying to piss me off?

[laughter from the journalists]

German Journalist: Do you still think you can win?

Niki Lauda: Yes, of course. I have the better car. And possibly I'm the better driver. But he's a clever guy, and he's used his time well while I was lying half-dead in hospital... to win some points.

British Journalish: And what did your wife say when she saw your face?

[Lauda pauses]

Niki Lauda: She said, 'Sweetie, you don't need a face to drive. You just need a right foot.'

[laughter from the journalists]

British Journalish: I'm being serious. Do you really think your marriage can survive with the way you look now?

Niki Lauda: And I'm being serious, too.

[Points at British journalist]

Niki Lauda: Fuck you. Press conference over.

[Lauda gets up angrily and storms his way out of the press conference]

[Following Lauda's press conference, Hunt approaches the British journalist that offended Lauda]

British Journalish: James, are you all right?

James Hunt: Good, yeah. Listen, I think I've got something for you on that last question, about Niki.

British Journalish: You heard about that?

James Hunt: I did.

[Hunt shoves the journalist into the maintenance room]

British Journalish: James...

[Hunt punches the journalist in the stomach and closes the door before proceeding to punch him in the face and shove him to the ground]

British Journalish: Please, James...

[Hunt grabs the journalist's tape recorder and stuffs it between his mouth]

James Hunt: Now go home to your wife and ask her how you look.

[Hunt punches the tape recorder on the journalist's face before he walks away]

James Hunt: Prick.