Most racing fans remember Niki Lauda as the man who survived fire. However, his story involves much more than just driving fast cars around a track. He founded his own airline and personally flew the massive jets as a licensed captain. Furthermore, his legendary discipline helped build the modern Mercedes team that dominates the sport today. Prepare to learn the truth about the champion who cheated death and conquered the world.
Niki Lauda
People called him “The Rat” because of his prominent front teeth. Marketing sponsors originally rejected him due to his unpolished looks. However, Niki Lauda embraced the nickname and let his driving skill speak for itself.
He bought his way into Formula One with a massive bank loan. He took a huge financial risk to buy a seat at March Engineering. Consequently, he had to drive perfectly to pay off the debt and save his career.
Terrifyingly, a priest gave him the last rites after his crash. Niki Lauda heard the priest praying for his death and felt intense anger. Thus, this rage motivated him to survive the burns and fight for his life.
He returned to racing only 42 days after nearly burning to death. Doctors reconstructed his eyelids, and his wounds were still bleeding inside his helmet. Miraculously, he finished fourth in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza despite the pain.
He famously traded his trophies for free car washes. He did not care about keeping shiny metal cups in his house. Therefore, he gave them to a local garage owner in exchange for keeping his road car clean.
Niki Lauda eventually founded and ran three different airlines. He was not just the CEO but also a licensed captain who flew the planes. Frequently, he greeted shocked passengers over the intercom during commercial flights.
He personally investigated a tragic plane crash in Thailand. When a Lauda Air jet crashed, he traveled to the site to find the cause. Ultimately, he forced Boeing to admit a mechanical fault in their thrust reversers.
He lost the 1976 championship by a single point. He voluntarily retired from the final race in Japan due to dangerous heavy rain. Consequently, James Hunt won the title while Lauda prioritized his safety over the trophy.
His famous red cap was a billboard worth millions. Initially, he wore it to hide his severe burn scars from the public. Later, companies paid massive sums to place their logos on the front of it.
He underwent two kidney transplants during his life. First, his brother Florian donated an organ to him in 1997. Later, his wife Birgit saved his life by donating her kidney when the first one failed.
Niki Lauda played a key role in signing Lewis Hamilton. As the chairman of Mercedes, he convinced the British star to leave McLaren. This decision sparked the most dominant era in modern Formula One history.
Surprisingly, he admitted that the movie Rush was very accurate. He praised Daniel Brühl’s performance as Niki Lauda in the film. However, he noted that his rivalry with James Hunt was actually friendly, not hateful.
He won championships for both Ferrari and McLaren. He remains the only driver in history to win titles for these two fierce rivals. Thus, his legacy bridges the gap between the biggest teams in the sport.
He briefly quit racing in the middle of a practice session. In 1979, he told his team he was tired of “driving in circles.” Immediately, he walked away from the track to focus entirely on his airline business.
Finally, he never fixed his missing ear. Doctors offered to reconstruct it using plastic surgery. Bluntly, Niki Lauda refused because he said the surgery would not help him hear any better.
