Five years after his death, Niki Lauda still exerts a significant influence on modern Formula 1. The legendary driver won the world championship three times and was known for his perseverance, honest character, and strategic driving style. Even after his career behind the wheel, the Austrian made significant contributions to motorsport. Exactly five years after his death, we list five of his most memorable moments.
1974: The First Grand Prix Victory
Niki Lauda’s first victory in Formula 1 came during the 1974 Spanish Grand Prix, held at the Circuito del Jarama. It was his first season with Ferrari. Under the watchful eye of a new team boss, Luca di Montezemolo, he qualified his 312 in the first starting position.
Lauda led the race from start to finish, barely threatened by his competitors. With a lead of 35 seconds over his teammate, Clay Regazzoni, his first victory was a fact. A significant win for Ferrari, who were back in the running for the world championship after several lean years.
1975: The First World Championship
1974 would lay the foundation for a successful collaboration with Ferrari and team boss Montezemolo. In 1975, the Scuderia introduced the 312T, the car with which Lauda would secure his first title. The season was marked by dominant performances and technical innovation, but above all by a brilliant collaboration between the Austrian and Ferrari.
With victories in Monaco, Belgium, Sweden, France, and the United States, Lauda became a serious contender for the world championship. He clinched his first title with a podium finish at Monza, in front of ecstatic Italian fans.
1976: Comeback After the Crash at the Nürburgring
On August 1, 1976, Lauda suffered a nearly fatal crash during the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. He sustained severe burns and lung damage, and his chances of survival seemed slim. However, just six weeks later, he made an incredible comeback at the Italian Grand Prix, where he crossed the finish line in fourth place. This determination made the driver instantly famous worldwide.
Niki Lauda would lose the 1976 title to his great rival, James Hunt. After an exciting battle that lasted until the last race of the season, the McLaren driver came out on top.
1984: Last World Championship
In 1984, Lauda won his last world championship with McLaren. The Austrian had joined the team two years earlier to make another bid for the title after his temporary retirement. After a few seasons without success, the driver managed to narrowly beat his teammate – a young Alain Prost.Lauda knew that Prost was often faster in the qualifications, so he focused on achieving stable point totals during the races. In the final race of the season, the Portuguese Grand Prix, he had built up a lead of 3.5 points over his teammate. However, Prost started from pole position, while Lauda started from P11. In an exciting battle at Estoril, the Austrian drove to second place, beating Prost by just half a point. This is still the smallest margin by which a Formula 1 championship has ever been won.
1985: Lauda’s Final Victory at Zandvoort
Lauda’s final victory in Formula 1 came during the 1985 Dutch Grand Prix. He and his teammate Alain Prost were the main title candidates at the time, with Prost set to clinch the championship that season. Lauda qualified at Zandvoort as tenth, which made his eventual victory all the more impressive.
It would be his last triumph in the sport – after the 1985 season, he retired from Formula 1, but not before he had stood on a legendary podium at Zandvoort. Teammate Alain Prost, as well as a young Ayrton Senna, completed the top three.
