Experienced over 830 Grand Prix races "Cheating Schumi" and dead racing drivers - now F1 legend Roger Benoit spills the beans

Roger Benoit has been traveling around the world with the Formula 1 circus since 1969. The legendary reporter, who is known for his cigars, straight talking and alleged immunity to jet lag, talks to Claudia Lässer about his experiences - and why there has never been a life for him outside of Formula 1.

He lives in his own world: Roger Benoit has been to more Grand Prix races than any driver he has ever interviewed. His passion for Formula 1 began around 70 years ago, but he came to racing more by chance, as the legendary reporter explains on the talk show "Lässer".

During a stay in England, Benoit attended his first race together with publisher Michael Ringier. "I wasn't interested in cars back then," Benoit said on the talk show. When Formula 1 became more popular a few years later and Blick wanted to report on it, the 20-year-old Benoit was chosen. The foundation stone for his great love of motorsport was laid.

"I was lucky back then to have a mentor who introduced me to the important people," says Benoit. He was less interested in the engines than the drivers and their stories: Who are the people involved in such a dangerous sport, in which several drivers died every year back then?

The man with gasoline in his blood has many curious and amusing, but also sad anecdotes to tell. Roger Benoit smoked a cigar with Jochen Rindt three hours before his death.

When asked how he dealt with death - which was omnipresent in motor racing at the time - Benoit says: "It fascinated me." He went to Rindt's funeral in 1970. It was his last for the time being. Years later, he didn't even attend his own mother's funeral. "I wrote a poem, but I never visited her grave," says Benoit with wet eyes. He couldn't.

"Formula madness"

The "Blick" reporter legend Roger Benoit knows Formula 1 like no other. In "Formula Madness", he looks back on over 825 Grand Prix races and his crazy life. He reveals unique anecdotes, unbelievable scandals and tragic stories. The book, written by deputy "Blick" sports editor Daniel Leu, has been available since April 16, 2026 at beobachter.ch/shop and in all bookshops in Switzerland.

Roger Benoit on Niki Lauda and cheating Schumi

The legendary reporter explains that his closest friend in racing was Niki Lauda.

At the time, Roger Benoit was the only journalist allowed into hospital after Niki Lauda's horror accident. He reported on his condition day after day. When a priest suddenly stormed out of the hospital room, Benoit feared the worst.

Lauda's wife had unceremoniously thrown the priest out. Benoit's report of the alleged last rites then spread around the world. In the talk, Benoit says that Lauda still said years later that it was precisely this moment that saved his life. "I don't want to retire like this," Lauda decided at the time.

In contrast, the relationship with Michael Schumacher was more of a love-hate relationship, according to Benoit. He had called him a cheating Schumi, which he resented for a long time. "He did the most - of the drivers with less talent," Benoit still says today about the record F1 world champion.

But the two have since made up. Find out how it came about in the show.