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− | '''Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda''' ([[February 22|22 February]] 1949 - [[May 20|20 May]] 2019) |
+ | '''Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda''' ([[February 22|22 February]] 1949 - [[May 20|20 May]] 2019) was an Austrian [[Formula One]] driver and avaiation entrepeneur. He was a three-time [[List of World Drivers' Champions|World Champion]], winning the title in {{F1|1975}}, {{F1|1977}} and {{F1|1984}}. He also nearly won the {{F1|1976}} title, despite a massive crash at the {{F1 GP|1976|German}} which left him with severe burns, and almost killed him. |
He later served as chairman for [[Mercedes Grand Prix]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/10775198/mercedes-give-toto-wolff-and-niki-lauda-new-long-term-contracts|title=Mercedes give Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda new long-term contracts|work=skysports.com|date=20 February 2017|accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref> |
He later served as chairman for [[Mercedes Grand Prix]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/10775198/mercedes-give-toto-wolff-and-niki-lauda-new-long-term-contracts|title=Mercedes give Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda new long-term contracts|work=skysports.com|date=20 February 2017|accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref> |
Revision as of 02:40, 21 May 2019
Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda (22 February 1949 - 20 May 2019) was an Austrian Formula One driver and avaiation entrepeneur. He was a three-time World Champion, winning the title in 1975, 1977 and 1984. He also nearly won the 1976 title, despite a massive crash at the German Grand Prix which left him with severe burns, and almost killed him.
He later served as chairman for Mercedes Grand Prix.[1]
Formula One Career
Born into a wealthy family, Lauda is considered one of Formula One's first pay drivers. However, he was found to be good, and managed to find a drive with the March team in both F1 and Formula 2, making his debut at his home race in 1971. In 1973, he tested for the declining BRM team, and despite proving his speed, only scored two points in the season.
In 1974, his career changed. BRM teammate, Clay Regazzoni, moved back to Ferrari, and as Ferrari did not have a second driver, they inquired about Lauda to Regazzoni. Regazzoni thought highly of Lauda's ability and Ferrari signed him. A good first season followed, starting off with a second place, and despite ending the season with five consecutive retirements, Lauda scored two wins and nine pole positions. The next season was even better, Lauda calling it "the unbelievable year". The season started slowly, with five points after four races, but then the next five races included four victories and a second place. Lauda also won the last race to take his first championship. The championship looked in the bag after Lauda started the 1976 season very strongly, scoring podiums in the first seven races. However, Lauda had a massive crash at the Nürburgring, in which he nearly died in his burning car. His chances of survival were so slim that he was given last rites. It was later discovered that Lauda had been wearing a helmet that did not meet the regulations. The helmet was wider and contained more padded foam for extra comfort. In the impact, the foam compressed and allowed the helmet to slip from Lauda's head. Had he been wearing a regulation helmet, the helmet would have had a greater chance of staying on his head and prevented facial damage from burns. Unbelievably though, Lauda returned after just 39 days, having missed two races, and he almost won the championship, being beaten by James Hunt after withdrawing (on safety grounds) in the extreme wet conditions at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Lauda's recovery was such that he dominated the 1977 season, taking three wins and six second places, and not bothering to drive the last two races after Ferrari wanted to give Gilles Villeneuve a go in a third car. However, after the three glorious years with Ferrari, Lauda quit the team to join Brabham in 1978. He drove strongly, scoring just seven podiums but retiring in every other race. In 1979, the Brabham car was poor, notching up retirement after retirement, and Lauda only scored four points, and he retired from F1 before the Canadian Grand Prix, tired of driving in circles.
Lauda surprisingly returned in 1982 with the McLaren team, having a good first season, winning twice, and coming fifth in the championship. 1983 was even worse, as after scoring ten points in the first two races, he only scored two more in the remaining thirteen, even failing to qualify at the Monaco Grand Prix.
1984 was a much better year, as Lauda took the championship from Alain Prost by just half a point, the smallest margin on record, taking five wins and four second places in the process. After a weak 1985 (with a win), Lauda retired for the second and final time.
Life after Formula One
Lauda founded his first airline, Lauda Air, in April 1979. In 2000, he was ousted from the Lauda Air board. In late 2003, Lauda acquired the former Aero Lloyd Austria operation and set up a new airline, Niki. He holds a commercial pilot's license and occasionally acts as captain on his airline.
While he was airline manager at Lauda Air, he was appointed consultant at Ferrari by Luca di Montezemolo in an effort to rejuvenate the team. In mid-2001, he was appointed Chairman of Jaguar, but was removed from his position after the 2002 season.
In 2013, he was appointed the chairman of Mercedes Grand Prix.
Lauda died on 20 May 2019 in Vienna at the age of 70 following a period of ill health.
Quotes
"Watch how the champion slipstreams Reutemann, then brilliantly pulls out, delays braking and eases past. That maneuver must have given Lauda a lot of satisfaction as he speeds on and leaves his former teammate to struggle in the Ferrari." - Harry Carpenter. BBC. 1978 Argentine Grand Prix.
"But behind him, Depailler believes he can steal second place from Lauda. The world champion has other ideas, just watch the skill and resolve as he totally outwits Depailler." - Harry Carpenter. BBC. 1978 Argentine Grand Prix.
"A quarter of the race left, Lauda has got past Watson and Depailler is threatening too. So Lauda is now second, some way behind Andretti. It's a position he knew well last season, he was second six times. That consistency one the world title." - Harry Carpenter. BBC. 1978 Argentine Grand Prix.
Personal
"The only thing I wanted was to win with the Brabham. Because they have commited myself and if the Ferrari's are in troubles, I am not happy for them but I'm sure they sort themselves out one day." - Talking to David Coleman. 1978 Argentine Grand Prix.
"John was going very quick and I was easing off in the beginning because I wanted to take it easy in the beginning. And I wanted to take it easy, especially with a full tank. Didn't want to do anything bad to the car and John just pulled away." - Talking to David Coleman. 1978 Argentine Grand Prix.
Formula One Statistical Overview
Formula One Record
Year | Entrant | Team | WDC Points | WDC Pos. | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1971 | STP March Racing Team | March-Ford Cosworth | 0 | NC | Report |
1972 | STP March Racing Team | March-Ford Cosworth | 0 | 23rd | Report |
1973 | Marlboro-BRM | BRM | 2 | 17th | Report |
1974 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA | Ferrari | 38 | 4th | Report |
1975 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA | Ferrari | 64.5 | 1st | Report |
1976 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA | Ferrari | 68 | 2nd | Report |
1977 | Scuderia Ferrari SpA | Ferrari | 72 | 1st | Report |
1978 | Parmalat Racing Team | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | 44 | 4th | Report |
1979 | Parmalat Racing Team | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | 4 | 14th | Report |
Brabham-Ford Cosworth | |||||
1980–1981 | Retired | ||||
1982 | Marlboro McLaren International | McLaren-Ford Cosworth | 30 | 5th | Report |
1983 | Marlboro McLaren International | McLaren-Ford Cosworth | 12 | 10th | Report |
McLaren-TAG | |||||
1984 | Marlboro McLaren International | McLaren-TAG | 72 | 1st | Report |
1985 | Marlboro McLaren International | McLaren-TAG | 14 | 10th | Report |
Non-Racing Formula One Career
Year | Role | Employer |
---|---|---|
1992 | Consultant | Scuderia Ferrari |
1993 | Consultant | Scuderia Ferrari |
1994 | Consultant | Scuderia Ferrari |
1995 | Consultant | Scuderia Ferrari |
1996 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
1997 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
1998 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
1999 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
2000 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
2001 | Chief Executive Officer | Jaguar Racing |
Commentator | RTL-F1 | |
2002 | Chief Executive Officer | Jaguar Racing |
Commentator | RTL-F1 | |
2003 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
2004 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
2005 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
2006 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
2007 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
2008 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
2009 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
2010 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
2011 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
2012 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
2013 | Commentator | RTL-F1 |
Chairman | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | |
2014 | Chairman | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team |
2015 | Chairman | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team |
2016 | Chairman | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team |
2017 | Chairman | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team |
Career Statistics
Template:Statbox
Race Wins
Career Results
Complete Formula One Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Pts | Pos
Template:1971 Results/17 Template:1972 Results/17 Template:1973 Results/17 Template:1974 Results/17 Template:1975 Results/17 Template:1976 Results/17 Template:1977 Results/17 Template:1978 Results/17 Template:1979 Results/17 | ||||||
1980 | Did not compete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
1981
Template:1982 Results/17 Template:1983 Results/17 Template:1984 Results/17 Template:1985 Results/17 |
Key | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Symbol | Meaning | Symbol | Meaning | ||
1st | Winner | Ret | Retired | ||
2nd | Podium finish | DSQ | Disqualified | ||
3rd | DNQ | Did not qualify | |||
5th | Points finish | DNPQ | Did not pre-qualify | ||
14th | Non-points finish | TD | Test driver | ||
Italics | Scored point(s) for Fastest Lap | DNS | Did not start | ||
18th† | Classified finish (retired with >90% race distance) | NC | Non-classified finish (<90% race distance) | ||
4thP | Qualified for pole position | [+] More Symbols |
External links
Notes
- ↑ "Mercedes give Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda new long-term contracts". skysports.com. 20 February 2017. http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/10775198/mercedes-give-toto-wolff-and-niki-lauda-new-long-term-contracts. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
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