North Tyrolean Formula 1 star Berger turns 60: “I enjoyed taking risks”

In the office in his hometown of Wörgl there are even more memorabilia, for example a massive BMW engine with 1400 hp from 1986. At that time, Berger won his first Formula 1 race for Benetton in Mexico. At the headquarters of his shipping company, Berger, who is also the head of the DTM, always has his past in mind. But North Tyroleans don't really have much use for nostalgia. He is much more interested in what lies ahead.

Broken neck before starting Formula 1 “My greatest wish for my 60th would be to have all my children around me. I haven't managed that yet, but that's what concerns me the most," said Berger before his milestone birthday on Tuesday. He and his partner Helene have two small children, Ella and Johann. The adult daughters Sara and Heidi, with whom the relationship is not without strain, as well as Christina come from previous relationships. “It’s a miracle to me how I survived my childhood.” Gerhard berger Sara and Heidi grew up in the glittering world of Monaco, their father, according to his own memories, grew up in North Tyrol “almost like in the Wild West”. Berger was behind the wheel as a child, much to the concern of his mother Olga. “My parents picked me up every two days either from the hospital or from the police,” he said with a laugh. “For me it is a pure miracle how I survived my childhood, but racing was sacred.” Berger with his partner Helene and their two children Johann and Ella. © APA / HANS KLAUS TECHT

Shortly before starting Formula 1, Berger broke his neck in a traffic accident; a scar on his neck still bears witness to the operation at the age of 24. In his third season at Ferrari, he only survived a terrible fire accident in Imola in 1989 thanks to the quick intervention of the marshals. Ten GP victories, but no world title “In the first part of my career I had a limitless willingness to take risks. “I enjoyed the risk and sought it out,” Berger recalled. “After my accident in Imola, that suddenly changed and I realized: playing with death doesn’t help. I then tried to dose the risk so that success would not suffer.” Berger won ten Formula 1 races, but despite his immense talent, it was not enough for a world title. “We all had in mind that a career has an expiration date – often with the sudden end of one’s life.” Gerhard berger “Gerhard is the most dangerous man in Formula 1,” motorsport legend Ayrton Senna, who died in 1994, once said about Berger, with whom he was friends. “You are not safe from him for a second.” Berger was notorious. “We did a lot of nonsense. “But I don’t really like talking about it because we were doing such tough and dangerous motorsport at the time,” said Berger. “The pranks were an outlet to loosen up a little and laugh. I think we all had in mind that a career in Formula 1 has an expiry date - often with the sudden end of one's life." Gerhard Berger lives in Söll (Kufstein district), directly on a ski slope. © APA / HANS KLAUS TECHT

Transience – Berger definitely thinks about that. Also about taking a step back from work, or at least turning off your cell phone for a few weeks on the occasion of your birthday and not reading any emails; Instead, spending more time with the family, enjoying the mountains and riding motorcycles. But Berger himself knows, sitting at his sprawling desk, that he won't be able to do that any time soon.

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North Tyrolean Formula 1 star Berger turns 60: “I enjoyed taking risks”

Gerhard Berger likes to sit at the desk in his office. On a sideboard to his left are photos of his family. On the back of the former Formula 1 star is a picture of him in his Ferrari from 1987. The North Tyrolean will be 60 years old on Tuesday.

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