Remembering Niki Lauda

My first hero and role model, Niki Lauda, three times Formula One world champion has died age 70.

As a child i remember watching my first ever F1 race to see Niki Lauda win the world championship in 1975. A year later he had an horrific accident that almost killed him, he received the last rights but recovered leaving him severely burnt and scarred for life.

He returned to F1 to win the 1977 championship, thus cementing in my mind his skill, bravery and determination.

Then in 1984 he took the world championship for a third time.

He was as also a successful aviator setting up 2 airlines.

Very sad that he has passed away. I hadn't heard of the man until I watched the film 'Rush' in 2013, dramatising the rivalry of Lauda and James Hunt in the 1976 Formula One season (a film for which Lauda himself acted as consultant). I was blown away by his single-mindedness and determination to achieve, coming back to race only weeks after his accident. He was also a great lobbyist for increased safety in Formula One (he wanted to call off the race in which he was injured, fearing that the weather conditions were too dangerous, but was voted down by his colleagues), and in that capacity he may well have saved the lives of several other racing drivers. He was clearly an admirable man in so many ways, possessing an incredible degree of courage and talent. Rest in peace, Niki.

He was an awesome guy,I watched him in a race with James hunt,he'll be missed in f1 for sure,

I'm not a big F1 fan but yes he was good.

I also remember him for the joke...

"What was the name of the driver who got horrific burns in a crash?"
"Lauder"
"I said, What was the name of the driver who got horrific burns in a crash?"
"Lauder"
Shouting now, "I said, What was the name of the driver who got horrific burns in a crash?"

Sorry, I'll get my coat

ChristineM said:

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My first hero and role model, Niki Lauda, three times Formula One world champion has died age 70.

As a child i remember watching my first ever F1 race to see Niki Lauda win the world championship in 1975. A year later he had an horrific accident that almost killed him, he received the last rights but recovered leaving him severely burnt and scarred for life.

He returned to F1 to win the 1977 championship, thus cementing in my mind his skill, bravery and determination.

Then in 1984 he took the world championship for a third time.

He was as also a successful aviator setting up 2 airlines.

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One of the greats. As you say, a man of great skill, courage and determination.

Christian Democrat said:

hadn't heard of the man until I watched the film 'Rush' in 2013, dramatising the rivalry of Lauda and James Hunt in the 1976 Formula One season (a film for which Lauda himself acted as consultant). I was blown away by his single-mindedness and determination to achieve, coming back to race only weeks after his accident.

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The film is pretty good, but it overstates the degree of rivalry between them to make the story better. They were actually good friends throughout that period, and knew each other even before F1.

R.I.P.

I wish racing where you turn left AND right was more popular in the U.S. than bumpkin-*** NASCAR.

I know of him primarily thru aeronautics.
He was a really sharp, successful & decent guy.

Augustus said:

The film is pretty good, but it overstates the degree of rivalry between them to make the story better. They were actually good friends throughout that period, and knew each other even before F1.

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I know, yes, I have read about the true story of Hunt and Lauda's relationship. Their rivalry was more or less as depicted on the racetrack, but off the track they had a huge amount of respect for each other. They even shared a flat when they were both lowly Formula Three drivers. Sad that both of them are gone now. (That said, I don't object to the filmmakers taking a bit of artistic license, and neither did Niki Lauda at the time.)

I admired the way he turned down plastic surgery and wanted to appear as he is. I think he considered his scars as symbols of a strong character and substance, which he truly had.

ChristineM said:

View attachment 29209

My first hero and role model, Niki Lauda, three times Formula One world champion has died age 70.

As a child i remember watching my first ever F1 race to see Niki Lauda win the world championship in 1975. A year later he had an horrific accident that almost killed him, he received the last rights but recovered leaving him severely burnt and scarred for life.

He returned to F1 to win the 1977 championship, thus cementing in my mind his skill, bravery and determination.

Then in 1984 he took the world championship for a third time.

He was as also a successful aviator setting up 2 airlines.

Click to expand...

Not gonna lie in that picture I thought that was an old a*** Donald Trump picture. I was gonna say Trump looks sickly like he has cancer but my condolences.

Epic Beard Man said:

Not gonna lie in that picture I thought that was an old a*** Donald Trump picture. I was gonna say Trump looks sickly like he has cancer but my condolences.

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Never thought of it before but yes, a definite resemblance.

Living through this would make anyone look sickly