When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
His impact on the world of motorsport has been immeasurable. On the one hand there are his three Formula 1 world championships, a feat matched by Ayrton Senna and bettered only by five other drivers.
But on the other, there’s the story of adversity behind them. Lauda fighting his family’s disapproval to chase a career on the track and – of course – the almighty comeback from his horrifying crash in 1976 that saw him return to the circuit just two races after being pulled from a burning Ferrari on the middle of the Nordschleife.
Lauda had tried to lead a drivers’ boycott before that infamous race at the Nürburgring due to safety concerns, and months later caused controversy by retiring from the Japanese Grand Prix due to poor weather, damaging his relationship with Ferrari. Back when the sport was too blasé about unwarranted danger, Lauda railed against it.
He was inducted into the motorsport hall of fame in 1993 and has more recently held senior roles at Ferrari and Mercedes, and is said to have been instrumental in bringing Lewis Hamilton to the latter.
Lauda had a lung transplant in 2018 and had been hospitalised with flu in early 2019.
“With deep sadness, we announce that our beloved Niki has peacefully passed away with his family on Monday,” his family said to Austrian media.
“His unique achievements as an athlete and entrepreneur are and will remain unforgettable, his tireless zest for action, his straightforwardness and his courage remain.
“A role model and a benchmark for all of us, he was a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather away from the public, and he will be missed.”
The guy also owned an airline with a couple of 767's! In fact, there was a horrible accident with one of them and everyone killed in a high-speed crash, initially attributed to pilot error. He doggedly pursued the matter until the cause was discovered--a technical fault with the thrust-reverser mechanism. Boeing swore that an engine couldn't go into reverse at cruise, and even if it did the aircraft was fully controllable. Turns out that Boeing tested under parameters different than high-speed cruise (when the LaudaAir 767 engine went into reverse) and also with the previous generation of engines that were more under the wing rather than in front of the wing. And a chance shorting of two wires in a bundle could cause the reverse function to occur. Lauda was vindicated, though I gather the airline was never quite the same afterwards (or Lauda). But because of his persistence a lot was learned about the issue and no doubt many lives have been saved.
There is a GREAT series called "Air Disasters" on the Smithsonian Channel, and one of the one-hour episodes went into this crash in considerable detail. It interviewed Lauda, too. What an amazing guy.
well apart from riredale slightly detracting from all of lauda's achievements as one of the all time great racers with his fiery inferno plane of death story, i was very sad to read about his death
anyone who hasn't seen it should definitely watch the ron howard movie Rush
Andreas Nikolaus Lauda (22 February 1949 – 20 May 2019) was an AustrianFormula One driver, a three-time F1 World Drivers' Champion, winning in 1975, 1977 and 1984, and an aviation entrepreneur. He was the only driver in F1 history to have been champion for both Ferrari and McLaren, the sport's two most successful constructors. He is widely considered one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time.[1] As an aviation entrepreneur, he founded and ran three airlines (Lauda Air, Niki, and Laudamotion). He was a Bombardier Business Aircraft brand ambassador. He was also a consultant for Scuderia Ferrari and team manager of the JaguarFormula One racing team for two years. He worked as a pundit for German TV during Grand Prix weekends and acted as non-executive chairman of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport. Lauda owned 10% of the team.[2]
Having emerged as Formula One's star driver amid a 1975 title win and leading the 1976 championship battle, Lauda was seriously injured in a crash at the 1976 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring during which his Ferrari 312T2 burst into flames, and he came close to death after inhaling hot toxic fumes and suffering severe burns.[3]
However, he survived and recovered sufficiently to race again just six weeks later at the Italian Grand Prix. Although he narrowly lost the title to James Hunt that year, he won his second Ferrari crown the year after during his final season at the team. After a couple of years at Brabham and two years' hiatus, Lauda returned and raced four seasons for McLaren between 1982 and 1985 – during which he won the 1984 title by 0.5 points over his team colleague Alain Prost.
yes, very sad indeed... but he did have one incredible life, with highest of highs and the lowest of lows... he displayed amazing determination, courage and talent, time and time again.
Racing legend Niki Lauda passes away - RIP
