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Niki Lauda

Austrian former Formula 1 driver (1949–2019)

AI overview

Niki Lauda was an Austrian Formula 1 racing driver who competed from the 1970s until his retirement, becoming one of the sport's most celebrated competitors. He remains historically significant for his exceptional driving skill and for surviving a near-fatal crash in 1976 that he famously returned from to continue racing.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Person · Open Library

Born: 1949
Died: 2019-05-20
Works: 13

Top works

The art and science of Grand Prix driving
Das dritte Leben
Formula 1
For the record
My years with Ferrari

via Open Library + Wikidata

Film & TV

Acting · Vienna, Austria

Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda (22 February 1949 – 20 May 2019) was an Austrian former Formula One racing driver who was the F1 World Champion three times in 1975, 1977 and 1984. Lauda was seriously injured in a crash at the 1976 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, during which his Ferrari burst into flames and he came close to death after inhaling hot toxic fumes and suffering severe burns.…

Known for

Mauro Forghieri - Il Calabrone che fece volare la Ferrari — Self2024
Transition to the Silver War — Self (archive footage)2023
Hunt vs Lauda: The Next Generation — Self2022
Origins of the Silver War — Self (archival footage)2020
Niki Nationale - Ein Leben in der Pole-Position — Self (archive footage)2019

Article

Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda (22 February 1949 – 20 May 2019) was an Austrian racing driver, motorsport executive, and aviation entrepreneur, who competed in Formula One from 1971 to 1979 and from 1982 to 1985. Lauda won three Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles and—at the time of his retirement—held the record for most podium finishes (54); he won 25 Grands Prix across 13 seasons, and remains the only driver to have won a World Drivers' Championship with both Ferrari and McLaren.

Born and raised in Vienna, Lauda was the grandson of local industrialist Hans Lauda. Starting his career in karting, he progressed to Formula Vee and privateer racing in the late 1960s. After his career stalled, Lauda took out a £30,000 bank loan and secured a place in European Formula Two with March Engineering in 1971, making his Formula One debut with the team at the Austrian Grand Prix. He was promoted to a full-time seat in 1972, ending the season with a non-classified championship finish, while winning the British Formula Two Championship. Lauda moved to BRM for the 1973 season, scoring his maiden points finish in Belgium and earning a seat with Ferrari the following year alongside Clay Regazzoni. Lauda took his maiden podium in his debut for Ferrari, and his maiden victory three races later at the Spanish Grand Prix. After winning five Grands Prix in his 1975 campaign, Lauda won his first title, becoming the first Ferrari-powered World Drivers' Champion in 11 years.