Niki Lauda

Austrian former Formula 1 driver

Champion with Ferrari and McLaren

Niki Lauda won titles in 1975, 1977 and 1984, came back from the 1976 Nürburgring fire, and later shaped Mercedes as a team chairman.

Niki Lauda was born in Vienna, Austria, on February 22, 1949. He moved from karting to Formula Vee and private entries in the late 1960s, then joined March in European Formula Two in 1971. March gave him his Formula 1 debut at the 1971 Austrian Grand Prix, and after a season with BRM in 1973 he was signed by Ferrari for 1974.

Success came quickly in red. He won the 1974 Spanish Grand Prix, his first victory, and in 1975 he won five races and the championship. He was leading the 1976 standings when he crashed at the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring and was badly burned when his car caught fire. He was back racing six weeks later at the Italian Grand Prix and lost the title to James Hunt by a single point. In 1977 he recovered the crown, settling it at the United States Grand Prix.

Lauda moved to Brabham for 1978 and won in Sweden and Italy, then stepped away from racing during 1979. He returned with McLaren in 1982, won races again, and in 1984 beat his teammate Alain Prost to a third title by half a point, the narrowest margin in championship history. His last win came at the 1985 Dutch Grand Prix and his final start was the 1985 Australian Grand Prix.

Our record lists 171 starts, 25 wins, 24 pole positions, 24 fastest laps and 54 podiums across 13 seasons. He remains the only driver to have won the title with both Ferrari and McLaren. Away from the cockpit he founded airlines, advised Ferrari, led Jaguar in 2001 and 2002, and from 2012 was non executive chairman at Mercedes. Lauda died in 2019.

3 world titles, 25 wins, 24 pole positions, 171 starts.

Teams

Victories

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