Formula 1 celebrated its 1003rd race this weekend at Monaco, but the otherwise glamorous Grand Prix was overshadowed by the recent passing of one it’s most celebrated and iconic heroes, three time world champion Niki Lauda, who I think is the greatest driver the sport has ever seen.
He passed away on May 20.
Lauda drove in the sport’s most dangerous era, where the cars with their high octane fuel tanks were veritable bombs on wheels, and driver safety was the last thing on anyone’s mind.
On average, two drivers died every week, but none of them really cared.
For them it was all about winning.
Lauda was born in Austria in 1949 and made his Formula 1 debut at the Spanish Grand Prix in 1974.
The Austrian is very well known for his fierce rivalry with one time World Champion James Hunt, which came with a lot drama, both on and off the track.
What is most remarkable about their rivalry is how their personalities were the polar opposite of each other.
Lauda was a more introverted driver who was a great strategist and was also involved in the development of the car, especially during his time with Ferrari, with whom he won two titles.
Hunt was an extroverted, larger than life character who was always seen with beautiful women and celebrities on the track.
He was dubbed the ‘party boy’ of Formula one.
Hunt drove on instinct and talent alone, while Lauda was more calculated in his approach.
Tragedy struck Niki Lauda and the racing world on August 1 at the 1976 Germany Grand Prix when a wet conditions and cold tyres saw him losing control of his Ferrari and crashing into a barrier at more than 200km/h, the car burst into flames with an unconscious Lauda inside the burning cockpit.
The force of the impact was such that his helmet was ripped off of his head.
He was in the burning cockpit for more than 10 seconds before safety marshals and other drivers were able to extricate him from the wreckage, and was then airlifted to hospital.
Harald Ertl, Guy Edwards and Brett Lunger, the drivers who stopped to help should be commended for sacrificing their race that Sunday to aid Lauda.
He was leading the championship at that point and lost it by one point, handing the title to Hunt.
Lauda suffered third degrees burns to his face and inhaled a fatal amount of poisonous fumes.
Most people assumed that his racing days were over but they were soon proven wrong when he showed up six weeks later at the Italian Grand Prix.
He went on to win the championship the following year with Ferrari in 1977.
Lauda stated that watching James Hunt win races on the hospital television while doctors nursed the burns on his face and pimped his lungs, was the primary reason for his racing again.
His last title came with McLaren in 1984 and he retired the following year.
His commitment to the sport was to last until his dying days, helping develop the Mercedes AMG team and mentoring driver Lewis Hamilton.
Lauda’s life can be a lesson in determination, bravery and passion.
Taking into consideration the extent of his injuries, both physical and psychological, and the extreme danger of the sport, his championship win in 1977 is the greatest comeback in sporting history.
Follow us on our social media platforms:
