OUT OF THE FIRE
“I suppose the truth is that I am as well known for surviving that terrible fiery accident in the 1976 German Grand Prix as I am for winning three world championships. I do not generally dwell on the events at Nürburgring almost 20 years ago, but it certainly served as a graphic indication of the potential dangers of motorsport’s most senior category.”
Writing in the foreword to a book about improvements in medical care in “motorsport’s most senior category”, Niki Lauda was not one to allow himself even the faintest, most evanescent wisp of an illusion. In assessing his legacy he was as unemotionally calculating as he was at the wheel of the cars with which he won the Formula 1 world drivers’ title in 1975, 1977 and 1984, driving first for Ferrari and then McLaren.
The fact that almost a decade separates his first and final triumphs demonstrates an ability that speaks for itself. He began his Formula 1 career in the era of Graham Hill and Sir Jackie Stewart and finally retired to usher in the years when Alain Prost (his teammate) and Nelson Piquet duelled for half a decade, the title switching between the two men.
For many, ‘just’ that achievement alone would have been sufficient. But Lauda excelled in business, too, founding a trio of eponymous airlines, and, as the holder of a commercial pilot’s licence, he captained some flights. He is also credited with playing a crucial role in securing the dominant position of the current F1 Mercedes team, after the marque’s 55-year absence from the sport. Actively involved in F1
