Niki Lauda (70) passes away

Published on 21 May 2019 by Kees-Jan Koster

Niki Lauda has passed away last night at age 70. The tree-time Formula 1 world champion was facing major health issues since last year and underwent a lung transplant.

Lauda won the world championship in 1975, 1977 and 1984, and won in total 25 Grand Prix. His last victory was in 1985, during the last edition of the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. For the general public Lauda was mainly known because his horrific accident on the Nürburgring in 1976. The Austrian narrowly escaped death when his Ferrari caught fire after the crash. Lauda performed an heroic act when he took part in the Italian Grand Prix, only six weeks after the accident, with substantial burns. That year he lost the championship with only one point short.

After his Formula 1 career ended in 1985, Lauda returned in the paddock as advisor for Ferrari and team principal for Jaguar. He also was an analyst for the German RTL. The last couple of years Lauda was acting as advisor for Mercedes.