Niki Lauda

Austrian former Formula 1 driver (1949–2019)

Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda (22 February 1949 – 20 May 2019) was an Austrian Formula One driver. He was a three-time F1 World Drivers' Champion, winning in 1975, 1977 and 1984. He was also an aviator, entrepreneur and writer.[1] He has founded and run two airlines and was manager of the Jaguar Formula One racing team for two years. In February 2018, Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda signed a deal at Mercedes until 2020.[2][3]

Niki Lauda
Lauda in 1984
BornAndreas Nikolaus Lauda
(1949-02-22)22 February 1949
Vienna, Austria
Died20 May 2019(2019-05-20) (aged 70)
Zürich, Switzerland
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality Austrian
Active years19711979, 19821985
TeamsMarch, BRM, Ferrari, Brabham, McLaren
Entries177 (171 starts)
Championships3 (1975, 1977, 1984)
Wins25
Podiums54
Career points420.5
Pole positions24
Fastest laps24
First entry1971 Austrian Grand Prix
First win1974 Spanish Grand Prix
Last win1985 Dutch Grand Prix
Last entry1985 Australian Grand Prix

Lauda died after a period of ill health on 20 May 2019 in Zürich. He was 70.[4]

Niki Lauda raced in the 1973 F1 season as a member of the British racing motors team.in 1974 he signed with the prestigious pransing horse Scuderia Ferrari team and gathered his first career F1 victory (as well as an additional win), finishing the season in fourth place. The 1975 racing season is one of the most storid in F1 history. Through nine races, Lauda had 5 victories and more than twice as many points in the championship standings as his closest competitor. Lauda tried to get the other drivers to agree to boycott the 10th race of the season, the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, but Lauda lost and the race went ahead. On the second lap of the German Grand Prix Lauda crashed and his car went on fire.

First Race:1971 Austrian F1 GP

Last Race: 1985 Austrian F1 GP

First Win: 1974 Spanish F1 GP

Last Win: 1995 Dutch F1 GP

References

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  1. "The F1 teams for the 2019 season- Formula 1®". Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website.
  2. Richards, Giles (2017-02-20). "Mercedes re-sign Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda to confirm F1 commitment". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  3. "Mercedes tie down Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda until 2020". The Independent. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  4. "Niki Lauda, three-time Formula One world champion, dies aged 70". The Guardian. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.