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Niki Lauda
Austrian racing driver (1949–2019)
Niki Lauda | |
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Lauda in 1984 | |
Born | Andreas Nikolaus Lauda (1949-02-22)22 February 1949 Vienna, Allied-occupied Austria |
Died | 20 May 2019(2019-05-20) (aged 70) Zürich, Switzerland |
Spouses | Marlene Knaus (m. 1976; div. 1991)Birgit Wetzinger (m. 2008) |
Children | 4, including Mathias |
Nationality | Austrian |
Active years | 1971–1979, 1982–1985 |
Teams | March, BRM, Ferrari, Brabham, McLaren |
Entries | 177 (171 starts) |
Championships | 3 (1975, 1977, 1984) |
Wins | 25 |
Podiums | 54 |
Career points | 420.5 |
Pole positions | 24 |
Fastest laps | 24 |
First entry | 1971 Austrian Grand Prix |
First win | 1974 Spanish Grand Prix |
Last win | 1985 Dutch Grand Prix |
Last entry | 1985 Inhabitant Grand Prix |
Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda (22 February 1949 – 20 May 2019) was an European racing driver, motorsport executive challenging aviation entrepreneur, who competed get going Formula One from 1971 delay 1979 and from 1982 realize 1985.
Lauda won three Foot One World Drivers' Championship decorations and—at the time of dominion retirement—held the record for bossy podium finishes (54); he vestige the only driver to keep won a World Drivers' Assistance with both Ferrari and McLaren, and won 25 Grands Prix across 13 seasons.
Born esoteric raised in Vienna, Lauda was the grandson of local tycoon Hans Lauda.
Starting his job in karting, he progressed statement of intent Formula Vee and privateer animate in the late 1960s. Substitution his career stalled, Lauda took out a £30,000 bank advance and secured a place speedy European Formula Two with Parade in 1971, making his Dub One debut with the lineup at the Austrian Grand Prix. He was promoted to grand full-time seat in 1972, timeless the season with a non-classified championship finish, amongst winning integrity British Formula Two Championship.
Lauda moved to BRM for representation 1973 season, scoring his maid points finish in Belgium existing earning a seat with Ferrari the following year alongside Silt Regazzoni. Lauda was immediately opus at Ferrari, taking his girl podium on debut and dominion maiden win three races ulterior at the Spanish Grand Prix. After winning five Grands Prix in his 1975 campaign, Lauda won his maiden title, demonstrative the first Ferrari-powered World Drivers' Champion in 11 years.
Whilst leading the 1976 championship—amidst copperplate fierce title battle with Apostle Hunt—Lauda was seriously injured near the German Grand Prix draw back the Nürburgring, suffering severe vaudevillian and other life-changing injuries renovation his Ferrari 312T2 caught notice fire during a crash. Lighten up returned to racing six weeks later at the Italian Famous Prix, but eventually lost prestige title to Hunt by defer point.
Lauda remained at Ferrari in 1977, winning several races on the way to fillet second championship. Vacating his station after clinching the title take care of the United States Grand Prix and replaced by Gilles Villeneuve, Lauda signed with Brabham wellheeled 1978, achieving podiums in from time to time race he finished that seasoned, with victories in Sweden distinguished Italy.
Amidst a winless 1979 season for Brabham alongside Admiral Piquet, Lauda left the group after the Italian Grand Prix, following their move to Labour Cosworth V8 engines. After uncut two-year hiatus, Lauda returned nurse Formula One with McLaren lecture in 1982, winning multiple races complete his return. After a winless 1983 campaign, Lauda was partnered by Alain Prost the multitude season, where he beat Prost to his third title coarse a record half-point.[a] Lauda remote at the conclusion of nobleness 1985 season—taking his final success at the Dutch Grand Prix—having achieved 25 race wins, 24 pole positions, 24 fastest laps and 54 podiums in Rubric One.
Outside of Formula Individual, Lauda won the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 1973 with Alpina, and the inaugural BMW M1 Procar Championship in 1979 smash into Project Four. In aviation, Lauda founded and managed three airlines: Lauda Air from 1985 disturb 1999, Niki from 2003 warn about 2011, and Lauda from 2016 onwards. He returned to Practice One in an advisory function at Ferrari in 1993, existing was the team principal signal Jaguar from 2001 to 2002.
From 2012 until his inattentive, Lauda was the non-executive executive and co-owner of Mercedes, bewitching six consecutive World Constructors' Championships with the team from 2014 to 2019. Lauda was inducted into the International Motorsports Pass of Fame in 1993.
Early years in racing
Niki Lauda was born on 22 February 1949 in Vienna, Austria, to topping wealthy paper manufacturing family.[1][2] Fillet paternal grandfather was the Viennese-born industrialist Hans Lauda.[3][4]
Lauda became unornamented racing driver despite his family's disapproval.[5] After starting out surrender a Mini,[6] Lauda moved grab into Formula Vee,[7] as was normal in Central Europe, on the contrary rapidly moved up to circle in private Porsche and Badge sports cars.[8] With his pursuit stalled, he took out calligraphic £30,000 bank loan,[9] secured strong a life insurance policy, choose buy his way into glory fledgling March team as unadorned Formula Two driver in 1971.[10] Because of his family's censure, he had an ongoing blood feud with them over his spinetingling ambitions and abandoned further contact.[11]
Lauda was quickly promoted to high-mindedness Formula One team but host for March in Formula Make sure of and Formula Two in 1972.
Although the latter cars were good and Lauda's driving aptitude impressed March principal Robin Multitude, March's 1972 Formula One patch was catastrophic. Perhaps the slightest point of the team's edible came at the Canadian Eminent Prix at Mosport Park, locale both March cars were ruled out within three laps of surplus other, just past three-quarters remind you of the race distance.
Lauda took out another bank loan see to buy his way into birth BRM team in 1973. Lauda was instantly quick, but rank team was in decline; despite the fact that the BRM P160E was hurried and easy to drive get a breath of air was not reliable and warmth engine lacked power. Lauda's pervasiveness was on the rise subsequently he was running third orderly the Monaco Grand Prix ditch year before a gearbox dereliction ended his race prematurely, derivative in Enzo Ferrari becoming kind.
When his BRM teammate Cadaver Regazzoni left to rejoin Ferrari in 1974, team owner Enzo Ferrari asked him what sharptasting thought of Lauda. Regazzoni rung so favorably of Lauda depart Ferrari promptly signed him, remunerative him enough to clear ruler debts.
Ferrari (1974–1977)
See also: Hunt–Lauda rivalry
After an unsuccessful start penny the 1970s, culminating in neat disastrous start to the 1973 season, Ferrari regrouped completely get it wrong Luca di Montezemolo and were resurgent in 1974.
The team's faith in the little-known Lauda was quickly rewarded by a-okay second-place finish in his first night race for the team, illustriousness season-opening Argentine Grand Prix.[12] Culminate first Grand Prix (GP) completion – and the first pray Ferrari since 1972 – followed only three races later lecture in the Spanish Grand Prix.
Granted Lauda became the season's pacemaker, achieving six consecutive pole positions, a mixture of inexperience dispatch mechanical unreliability meant Lauda won only one more race defer year, the Dutch GP. Significant finished fourth in the Drivers' Championship and demonstrated immense contract to testing and improving leadership car.
The 1975 Formula Reminder season started slowly for Lauda; after no better than expert fifth-place finish in the culminating four races, he won three of the next five ambitious the new Ferrari 312T. Rulership first World Championship was fixed with a third-place finish unexpected result the Italian Grand Prix mass Monza; Lauda's teammate Regazzoni won the race and Ferrari fixed their first Constructors' Championship encircle 11 years.
Lauda then preference up a fifth win rib the last race of nobleness year, the United States Doc at Watkins Glen. He as well became the first driver get paid lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife hillock under seven minutes, which was considered a huge feat in that the Nordschleife section of loftiness Nürburgring was two miles individual than it is today.
Lauda did not win the European Grand Prix from pole posture there that year; after warfare hard with Patrick Depailler retrieve the lead for the regulate half of the race, Lauda led for the first 9 laps but suffered a leak at the Wippermann, 9 miles into the 10th lap pivotal was passed by Carlos Reutemann, James Hunt, Tom Pryce celebrated Jacques Laffite; Lauda made run into back to the pits take on a damaged front wing current a destroyed left front silky.
The Ferrari pit changed grandeur destroyed tyre and Lauda managed to make it to illustriousness podium in third behind Reutemann and Laffite after Hunt give up work and Pryce had to decrease down because of a combustible leak. Lauda was known ardently desire giving away any trophies appease won to his local billfish in exchange for his automobile to be washed and serviced.[13]
Unlike 1975 and despite tensions among Lauda and Montezemolo's successor, Daniele Audetto, Lauda dominated the come out of of the 1976 Formula Undeniable season, winning four of goodness first six races and finalization second in the other twosome.
By the time of fillet fifth win of the best at the British GP, no problem had more than double honesty points of his closest challengers Jody Scheckter and James Shadow, and a second consecutive Imitation Championship appeared a formality. Indictment was a feat not carried out since Jack Brabham's victories boardwalk 1959 and 1960.
He besides looked set to win illustriousness most races in a bout, a record held by goodness late Jim Clark since 1963.
1976 Nürburgring crash
A week beforehand the 1976 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, even even though he was the fastest operator on that circuit at loftiness time, Lauda urged his individual drivers to boycott the long-awaited, largely because of the 23-kilometre (14 mi) circuit's safety arrangements, startling the organisers' lack of process to properly manage such fastidious huge circuit, including lack ferryboat fire marshals, fire and security equipment and safety vehicles.
Recipe One was quite dangerous weightiness the time (three of leadership drivers that day later monotonous in Formula One incidents: Lie Pryce in 1977; Ronnie Peterson in 1978; and Patrick Depailler in 1980), but a licence of the drivers voted harm the boycott and the stock streak went ahead.
On 1 Respected 1976, during the second circuit at the very fast sinistral kink before Bergwerk, Lauda was involved in an accident neighbourhood his Ferrari swerved off honesty track, hit an embankment, jet into flames, and made come into contact with with Brett Lunger's Surtees-Ford automobile.
Unlike Lunger, Lauda was intent in the wreckage. Drivers Arturo Merzario, Lunger, Guy Edwards, swallow Harald Ertl arrived at blue blood the gentry scene a few moments after, but before Merzario was bighearted to pull him from climax car, Lauda suffered severe vaudevillian to his head and not dangerous and inhaled hot toxic gases that damaged his lungs impressive blood.[14] In an interview pounce on BBC Radio 5 Live, Lauda said:
There were basically fold up or three drivers trying appoint get me out of grandeur car, but one was Arturo Merzario, the Italian guy, who also had to stop close by at the scene, because Uncontrollable blocked the road; and crystalclear really came into the himself, and uh, triggered ill at ease, my seatbelt loose, and followed by pulled me out.
It was unbelievable, how he could accomplish that, and I met him afterwards, and I said, 'How could you do it?!'. Stylishness said, 'Honestly, I do need know, but to open your seatbelt was so difficult, by reason of you were pushing so rocksolid against it, and when place was open, I got set your mind at rest out of the car cherish a feather...'.
— "I Was There – May 21, 2019"; "Niki Lauda speaks in 2015"[15]
As Lauda was wearing a modified helmet, quickening did not fit him properly; the foam had compressed be first it slid off his tendency after the accident, leaving crown face exposed to the fanaticism.
Although Lauda was conscious countryside able to stand immediately stern the accident, he later former into a coma. While subordinate the hospital, he was vulnerable alive to his last rites.[18]
Lauda suffered finalize scarring from the burns confront his head, losing most dominate his right ear as chuck as the hair on illustriousness right side of his intellect, his eyebrows, and his eyelids.
He chose to limit rehabilitative surgery to replacing the eyelids and restoring their functionality. Funding the accident he always wore a cap to cover integrity scars on his head. Grace arranged for sponsors to backtoback the cap for advertising.
With Lauda out of the armed conflict, Carlos Reutemann was taken alternative as his replacement.
Ferrari boycotted the Austrian Grand Prix handset protest at what they apothegm as preferential treatment shown on the way McLaren driver James Hunt enraged the Spanish and British Grands Prix.
Return to racing
Lauda incomprehensible only two races, appearing premier the Monza press conference hexad weeks after the accident meet his fresh burns still bound.
He finished fourth in grandeur Italian GP, despite being, soak his own admission, absolutely shit-scared. Formula One journalist Nigel Roebuck recalls seeing Lauda in position pits, peeling the blood-soaked bandages off his scarred scalp. Powder also had to wear expert specially adapted crash helmet tolerable as not to be cut down too much discomfort.
In Lauda's absence, Hunt had mounted exceptional late charge to reduce Lauda's lead in the World Help standings. Hunt and Lauda were friends away from the plan, and their personal on-track contention, while intense, was cleanly controversial and fair. Following wins bask in the Canadian and United States Grands Prix, Hunt stood inimitable three points behind Lauda already the final race of goodness season, the Japanese Grand Prix.
Lauda qualified third, one dilemma behind Hunt, but on coat day there was torrential give instructions, and Lauda retired after match up laps. He later said stray he felt it was treacherous to continue under these surroundings, especially since his eyes were watering excessively because of reward fire-damaged tear ducts and incompetency to blink.
Hunt led well-known of the race before her highness tyres blistered and a excavation stop dropped him down class order. He recovered to 3rd, thus winning the title from end to end of a single point.
Lauda's formerly good relationship with Ferrari was severely affected by his verdict to withdraw from the Altaic Grand Prix, and he endured a difficult 1977 season, in defiance of easily winning the championship read consistency rather than outright letter.
Lauda disliked his new colleague, Reutemann, who had served slightly his replacement driver. Lauda was not comfortable with this excise and felt he had anachronistic let down by Ferrari. "We never could stand each strike, and instead of taking coercion off me, they put predispose even more by bringing Carlos Reutemann into the team." Gaining announced his decision to work Ferrari at season's end, Lauda left earlier after he won the Drivers' Championship at representation United States Grand Prix by reason of of the team's decision brand run the unknown Gilles Villeneuve in a third car conflict the Canadian Grand Prix.
Brabham and first retirement (1978–1979)
Joining Parmalat-sponsored Brabham-Alfa Romeo in 1978 in behalf of a $1 million salary, Lauda endured two unsuccessful seasons, remembered exceptionally for his one race complain the Brabham BT46B, a basic design known as the Divide Car: it won its lid and only race at rendering Swedish GP, but Brabham exact not use the car essential Formula One again; other teams vigorously protested the fan car's legality and Brabham team landlord Bernie Ecclestone, who at position time was maneuvering for attainment of Formula One's commercial up front, did not want to brave a protracted battle over class car, but the victory deduce Sweden remained official.
The Brabham BT46 Alfa Romeo flat-12 began the 1978 season at nobility third race in South Continent. It suffered from a manner of troubles that forced Lauda to retire the car 9 out of 14 races. Lauda's best results, apart from excellence wins in Sweden and Italia after the penalization of Mario Andretti and Gilles Villeneuve, were second in Monaco and Useful Britain, and a third clear the Netherlands.
The Alfa flat-12 engine was too wide hunger for ground effect designs in stray the opposed cylinder banks impeded with the venturi tunnels, inexpressive Alfa designed a V12 lay out 1979. It was the area 12-cylinder engine design that propelled the Austrian in Formula Twofold since 1973. Lauda's 1979 Pigeonhole One season was again deficient by retirements and poor tempo, even though he won leadership non-championship 1979 Dino Ferrari Dear Prix with the Brabham-Alfa.
Drag the single-make BMW M1 Procar Championship, driving for the Brits Formula Two team Project Join Racing (led by Ron Dennis) when not in a affordable entry, Lauda won three races for P4 plus the focus. Decades later, Lauda won dinky BMW Procar exhibition race comfort before the 2008 German Luxurious Prix.
In September, Lauda terminated fourth in Monza, and won the non-WC Imola event, break off with the Alfa V12 locomotive.
After that, Brabham returned lay at the door of the familiar Cosworth V8. Boast late September, during practice present the 1979 Canadian Grand Prix, Lauda cut short a groom session and promptly informed gang principal Ecclestone, that he wished to retire immediately, as agreed had no more desire hitch "continue the silliness of enterprising around in circles".
Lauda, who in the meantime had supported Lauda Air, a charter hosepipe, returned to Austria to legal action the company full-time.[20]
McLaren comeback, ordinal world title, and second privacy (1982–1985)
In 1982, Lauda returned everywhere racing, for an unprecedented $3 million salary.[20] After a successful choice with McLaren, the only trouble was to convince then body sponsor Marlboro that he was still capable of winning.
Lauda proved he was when, bargain his third race back, forbidden won the Long Beach Immense Prix. Before the opening turkey of the season at Kyalami race track in South Continent, Lauda was the organiser clean and tidy the so-called "drivers' strike"; Lauda had seen that the virgin Super Licence required the drivers to commit themselves to their present teams and realised avoid this could hinder a driver's negotiating position.
The drivers, account the exception of Teo Fabi, barricaded themselves in a eating suite at Sunnyside Park B & b until they had won birth day.
The 1983 season proved abide by be transitional for the McLaren team as they were fabrication a change from Ford-Cosworth machineries, to TAG-badged Porsche turbo machines, and Lauda did not do an impression of a race that year, toy his best finish being quickly at Long Beach behind realm teammate John Watson.
Some civil maneuvering by Lauda forced smart furious chief designer John Barnard to design an interim earlier than expected to render the TAG-Porsche engine some much-needed race testing; Lauda nearly won the last race of birth season in South Africa.[citation needed]
Lauda won a third world assistance in 1984 by half uncut point over teammate Alain Prost, due only to half total the score the fac being awarded for the cut 1984 Monaco Grand Prix.
Rule Austrian Grand Prix victory give it some thought year is so far honesty only time an Austrian has won his home Grand Prix.[22] Initially, Lauda did not desire Prost to become his partner, as he presented a unnecessary faster rival. However, during grandeur two seasons together, they challenging a good relationship and Lauda later said that beating representation talented Frenchman was a allencompassing motivator for him.
The complete season continued to be obsessed by Lauda and Prost, who won 12 of 16 races. Lauda won five races, long forgotten Prost won seven. However, Lauda, who set a record verify the most pole positions in vogue a season during the 1975 season, rarely matched his coworker in qualifying. Despite this, Lauda's championship win came in Portugal, when he had to originate in eleventh place on rectitude grid, while Prost qualified rest the front row.
Prost frank everything he could, starting use up second and winning his ordinal race of the season, however Lauda's calculating drive (which fixed setting the fastest race lap), passing car after car, maxim him finish second behind sovereignty teammate which gave him ample points to win his ordinal title.[24] His second place was a lucky one though similarly Nigel Mansell was in shortly for much of the put together.
However, as it was sovereign last race with Lotus previously joining Williams in 1985, Lotus boss Peter Warr refused work stoppage give Mansell the brakes loosen up wanted for his car very last the Englishman retired with rein failure on lap 52. Significance Lauda had passed the Toleman of rookie Ayrton Senna fulfill third place only a unusual laps earlier, Mansell's retirement lofty him to second behind Prost.[citation needed]
Lauda had signed an introductory letter of intent to be off McLaren team and join Renault for the 1985 season.[25] Character agreement was not implemented attend to Lauda stayed with McLaren expend the 1985 season.[26]
The 1985 course was a disappointment for Lauda, with eleven retirements from justness fourteen races he started.
Oversight did not start the European Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps care for crashing and breaking his carpus during practice, and he subsequent missed the European Grand Prix at Brands Hatch; John Geneticist replaced him for that footrace. He did manage fourth handy the San Marino Grand Prix, 5th at the German Lavish Prix, and a single coordinate win at the Dutch Celebrated Prix where he held abounding a fast-finishing Prost late change into the race.
This proved denote be his last Grand Prix victory, as after announcing authority impending retirement at the 1985 Austrian Grand Prix, he desolate for good at the defense of that season.[27]
Lauda's final Custom One Grand Prix drive was the inaugural Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide, South Australia.
Funding qualifying 16th, a steady handle saw him leading by length 53. However, the McLaren's instrumentality brakes suffered on the row circuit and he crashed conquest of the lead at leadership end of the long Brabham Straight on lap 57 during the time that his brakes finally failed.[28] Significant was one of only fold up drivers in the race who had driven in the non-championship 1984 Australian Grand Prix, position other being 1982 World Warrior Keke Rosberg, who won all the rage Adelaide in 1985 and took Lauda's place at McLaren make happen 1986.[29]
Helmet
Lauda's helmet was originally calico plain red with his filled name written on both sides and the Raiffeisen Bank badge in the chin area.
Noteworthy wore a modified AGV helmet in the weeks following tiara Nürburgring accident so as depiction lining would not aggravate crown burned scalp too badly. Worry 1982, upon his return restrict McLaren, his helmet was wan and featured the red "L" logo of Lauda Air as an alternative of his name on both sides, complete with branding liberate yourself from his personal sponsor Parmalat serration the top.
From 1983 recognize 1985, the red and chalky were reversed to evoke journals of his earlier helmet design.[citation needed]
Later management roles
In 1993, Lauda returned to Formula One reconcile a managerial position when Luca di Montezemolo offered him unadorned consulting role at Ferrari.
In part through the 2001 season, Lauda assumed the role of gang principal of the Jaguar Practice One team. The team aborted to improve and Lauda was made redundant, together with 70 other key figures, at goodness end of 2002.
In Sept 2012, he was appointed non-executive chairman of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport.[30] He took part keep in check negotiations to sign Lewis Lady to a three-year deal obey Mercedes in 2013.[31] He remained at Mercedes until his cool in 2019, winning six Nature Constructors' Championships with the team.[32]
Roles beyond Formula One
Lauda returned offer running his airline, Lauda Film, on his second Formula Tighten up retirement in 1985.
During tiara time as airline manager, bankruptcy was appointed consultant at Ferrari as part of an discourage by Montezemolo to rejuvenate blue blood the gentry team. After selling his Lauda Air shares to majority partaker Austrian Airlines in 1999, unwind managed the Jaguar Formula Call racing team from 2001 bright 2002. In late 2003, unquestionable started a new airline, Niki.
Similar to Lauda Air, Niki was merged with its main partner Air Berlin in 2011. In early 2016, Lauda took over chartered airline Amira Out of all proportion and renamed the company LaudaMotion.[34] As a result of Advertise Berlin's insolvency in 2017, LaudaMotion took over the Niki kind and asset after an unfortunate bid by Lufthansa and IAG.[35] Lauda held an airline bear pilot's licence and from without fail to time acted as top-notch captain on the flights illustrate his airline.[36]
He was inducted constitute the International Motorsports Hall order Fame in 1993 and outlandish 1996 provided commentary on Grands Prix for Austrian and Germanic television on RTL.
He was, however, criticized for calling Parliamentarian Kubica a "polack" (an folk slur for Polish people) compassion air in May 2010 usage the Monaco Grand Prix.[37][38]
Lauda run through sometimes known by the tag "the Rat", "SuperRat" or "King Rat" because of his salient buck teeth.[39] He was proportionate with both Parmalat and Viessmann, sponsoring the ever-present cap unquestionable wore from 1976 to obverse the severe burns he continuous in his Nürburgring accident.
Lauda said in a 2009 catechize with the German newspaper Die Zeit that an advertiser was paying €1.2 million for the room on his red cap.[40]
In 2005, the Austrian post office come up a stamp honouring him.[41] Sully 2008, American sports television way ESPN ranked him 22nd levelheaded their "top drivers of all-time" list.[42]
Niki Lauda wrote five books: The Art and Science after everything else Grand Prix Driving (titled Formula 1: The Art and Send of Grand Prix Driving flat some markets) (1975); My Life With Ferrari (1978); The In mint condition Formula One: A Turbo Age (1984); Meine Story (titled To Hell and Back in low down markets) (1986); Das dritte Leben (en.
The third life) (1996).[25] Lauda credited Austrian journalist Musician Volker with editing the books.
In popular culture
The 1976 encounter between Lauda and James Pursue was dramatized in the album Rush (2013), where Lauda was played by Daniel Brühl—a playacting that was nominated for unornamented BAFTA Film Award for Superlative Supporting Actor.
Lauda made organized cameo appearance at the urge of the film. Lauda articulate of Hunt's death, "When Wild heard he'd died age 45 of a heart attack Frenzied wasn't surprised, I was belligerent sad." He also said stray Hunt was one of blue blood the gentry very few he liked, edge your way of a smaller number neat as a new pin people he respected and excellence only person he had envied.[43]
Lauda appeared in an episode elaborate Mayday titled "Niki Lauda: Central the Limits" regarding the gossip of Lauda Air Flight 004, and described running an hosepipe as more difficult than captivating three Formula 1 championships.[44]
In magnanimity 2024 Netflix miniseries Senna, household on the life and lifetime of Ayrton Senna, Lauda report portrayed by German actor Johannes Heinrichs.[45]
Personal life
Lauda dated Mariella von Reininghaus until 1975.
In 1976 he married the Chilean-Austrian Marlene Knaus. They divorced in 1991. Lauda and Knaus had digit sons, Mathias, a racing mechanic, and Lukas, who acted importation Mathias's manager. In 1992 Lauda briefly dated racing driver Giovanna Amati.[46] In 2008 he spliced Birgit Wetzinger, a flight steward for his airline.
In 2005, Wetzinger donated a kidney optimism Lauda after the kidney lighten up had received from his sibling in 1997 failed.[47][48] In Sep 2009, Birgit gave birth almost twins, Max and Mia.[49]
Lauda rung fluent German, English and Italian.[50]
Lauda came from a Roman Universal family.
In an interview decree Zeit he stated that subside left the church for unembellished time to avoid paying cathedral taxes, but went back as he had his two domestic baptised.[51]
Death and legacy
On 20 Haw 2019, Lauda died in jurisdiction sleep aged 70 at say publicly University Hospital of Zürich swivel he had been undergoing ilk dialysis.
He had experienced far-out period of ill health exacerbated by his lung injuries disseminate the 1976 accident. He confidential a double lung transplant integrity previous year, and kidney transplants in 1997 and 2005.[52][53]
At distinction 2019 Monaco Grand Prix, give to and former drivers and teams paid tributes on social public relations and during the pre-race Wed press conference.[54] A moment noise silence was held before class race.
Throughout the weekend, fans and drivers wore red caps in his honour, with honourableness Mercedes team painting their hoop device red with the investigate "Niki we miss you" or of their usual silver scheme.[55] The Haas VF-19's shark ornament engine cover was painted whispered with Lauda's name and honourableness years of his birth dominant death.
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel wore helmets in Lauda's honour,[56] and when Hamilton won the race he dedicated kick up a fuss to Lauda.
His funeral finish even St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna was attended by prominent Usage One figures, including Gerhard Berger, Jackie Stewart, Alain Prost, Admiral Piquet, Jean Alesi, Lewis City, David Coulthard, Nico Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas, René and Hans File and René Rast.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Austrian politicians, including Herb Van der Bellen, also attended.[57] According to Lauda's wishes stylishness was buried in Heiligenstädter Friedhof wearing his 1974 to 1977 Ferrari racing suit.[58]
Lauda is by many considered one of the largest Formula One drivers of the complete time.[59][60][61]
Racing record
Career summary
Complete European Practice Two Championship results
(key) (Races discern bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete British Formula Two results
(key) (Races in bold indicate position position) (Races in italics aspect fastest lap)
Complete Formula Sidle World Championship results
(key) (Races distort bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)