Niki Lauda, full name Andreas Nikolaus Lauda, was born on 22 February 1949 in Vienna, Austria. He became one of the most important and successful drivers in Formula 1 history. His career was marked not only by success on the racetrack, but also by personal and professional dramas that shaped him into a legend of the sport. Lauda came from a wealthy family, but against his parents' wishes, he decided to pursue motor racing. He began his career in the lower classes of motorsport and gradually worked his way up. In 1971, he made his Formula 1 debut with the March team. However, his first years in the royal class of motorsport were not very successful. The turning point came in 1974 when Lauda joined the Ferrari team. With Ferrari, Lauda quickly established himself as one of the best drivers of his time. In 1975, he won his first world championship title, winning five races and showing extraordinary consistency and speed. The 1976 season, however, brought Lauda one of the most dramatic periods of his career. A serious accident occurred during the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, in which his car caught fire and Lauda suffered severe burns and inhaled toxic fumes. Despite his serious injuries, he returned to the race track after just six weeks, showing his incredible determination and will. Lauda returned in 1977 at full strength and won his second world championship title. After a disagreement with the Ferrari team in 1978, he switched to the Brabham team, where he stayed until 1979, before deciding to end his racing career and pursue a career in business. However, in 1982 he returned to Formula 1 with the McLaren team. He won his third world championship in 1984, the highlight of his return to top motorsport. In addition to his racing talent, Lauda was also an accomplished businessman. After retiring from active racing, he founded Lauda Air, which he successfully ran. His passion for aviation and business was as strong as his love of racing. He also later served as a consultant and non-executive director of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, where he played a key role in their success in the modern era of F1. Niki Lauda passed away on May 20, 2019 at the age of 70. However, his legacy lives on not only through his sporting achievements, but also through his personal courage, indomitable will and contributions to the world of motorsport and aviation. Lauda remains a Formula 1 icon and his story is inspiring new generations of drivers and fans around the world.
