Formula 1 Legend Niki Lauda Passes Away Peacefully at 70
Three-time Formula 1 champion was receiving kidney dialysis at the time of his passing, had health issues since mid-2018.
James Hunt. Ayrton Senna. Gilles Villeneuve. Formula 1 legends who’ve left their mark on motorsport before leaving us too soon.
Today, another name joins that list. Niki Lauda passed away May 20, 2019 at the age of 70.
“With deep sadness, we announce that our beloved Niki has peacefully passed away with his family on Monday,” his family said in a recent press statement. “His unique achievements as an athlete and entrepreneur are and will remain unforgettable, his tireless zest for action, his straightforwardness and his courage remain.”
Lauda first competed in Formula 1 in 1971, taking his first win in the ’74 season, followed by his first of three championships in 1975. His legend, however, was forged in fire in 1976 in an accident on the Nurburgring, where he was trapped in his car long enough to sustain burns on his face and damage to his lungs. While most would sit-out such injuries for months if not an entire season, Lauda returned to competition after just two races, falling short of claiming another championship by one point to the aforementioned Hunt.
That was a mere delay, of course, as Lauda did get the second title for Ferrari in 1977. It was also his last for the team, having jumped ship to Brabham in 1978. That outing lasted a year and a half before deciding to retire in 1979 during practice at that year’s Canadian Grand Prix. He came back in 1982 to race for McLaren, retiring in 1985 after winning his third and final championship the year before.
Decades later, Niki Lauda joined Mercedes as the team’s non-executive chair in late 2012. His first move would be his most enduring: securing the services of Lewis Hamilton from McLaren. Paired with Nico Rosberg, the duo netted a trio of wins for the budding team the following year before the V8s gave way to hybrids in 2014. After that, Mercedes began its reign of dominance over Formula 1, with 2019 likely to bestow a sixth consecutive title for the team and for Hamilton.
Lauda had been facing health issues for the past few years, as recently as last August with a lung transplant. He also had two kidney transplants, and was undergoing dialysis at the time of his passing.
“A role model and a benchmark for all of us, he was a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather away from the public, and he will be missed,” his family said.
Photos: Motorsport, McLaren Twitter, and Daimler AG Twitter
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