Racing Legend Niki Lauda Dies Age 70

Three-time Formula 1 Champion died peacefully just eight months after a lung transplant.

For most, Niki Lauda‘s incredible story of bravery and determination is what he’ll be remembered for. The legendary Austrian race car driver took the Formula 1 title twice for Ferrari and once for McLaren. In 1976, Lauda came back from a fiery crash that left him badly burned and his lungs damaged to take the title in 1977. He wasn’t expected to live after his crash at the Nurburgring but just 40 days later, and with his third-degree burns still bandaged, Lauda returned to racing.

Lauda’s exceptional career started in Formula 1 started against the wishes of his family and using bank loans to get his shot. His first drive came in 1971 and, after seasons with March and BRM, he caught the eye of Enzo Ferrari who offered him a drive with Scuderia. Lauda’s first podium for Ferrari came with his first race, and his first win was just 3 races later. His first Formula 1 title came in 1975 with Ferrari, just one year before his horrific crash in Germany.

Following his second title, Lauda raced for two more seasons with Brabham before retiring in 1979. He didn’t stay out of racing for long though, joining McLaren in 1982, then winning his last Formula 1 title with the team in 1984.

NEED FOR SPEED: Niki Lauda’s first win for McLaren at the 1982 United States Grand Prix West.

However, Lauda’s achievements didn’t stop there. After retiring from racing, he took on a consulting role with Ferrari then worked as principal for the Jaguar racing team. He became an entrepreneur with his own airline company during his first retirement, and later on in his role as a non-executive chairman for the Formula 1 Mercedes team he was influential in bringing Lewis Hamilton to Formula 1.

Lauda died peacefully just eight months after receiving a lung transplant, and leaves behind his wife and their twin children born in 2009, as well as three sons from previous relationships. He will be remembered by friends, family, the people he worked with and fans of motorsport for his love of racing and his bravery, judgment, uncompromising determination, humor, and heart.

Photos: McLaren

Join the Team Speed forums now!

Ian Wright

Ian Wright has been a professional automotive writer for over two years and is a regular contributor to Corvette Forum, Jaguar Forums, and 6SpeedOnline, among other popular auto sites.

Ian's obsession with cars started young and has left him stranded miles off-road in Land Rovers, being lost far from home in hot hatches, going sideways in rallycross cars, being propelled forward in supercars and, more sensibly, standing in fields staring at classic cars. His first job was as a mechanic, then he trained as a driving instructor before going into media production.

The automotive itch never left though, and he realized writing about cars is his true calling. However, that doesn’t stop Wright from also hosting the Both Hand Drive podcast.

Ian can be reached at bothhanddrive@gmail.com