Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Niki Lauda (1949-2019)

One of the greatest F1 Champions has passed away. I was barely a teenager when he was a champion at Ferrari, and I was already a young adult when I watched him get his final championship at Estoril by half a point (that was 1984).

His driving was amazing to watch. There was a mix of great skill, great courage and a relentlessness in the pace that made him the undisputed champion of his era.

Lauda today is almost forgotten when F1 fans are asked to make their list of top F1 drivers ever. From the very old days Fangio always shows up, the British fans don't ever forget to mention Clark and Stewart, and then it is Senna, Prost and Schumacher (with the youngest fans trying to add Hamilton and Vettel, which I think might be fair on numbers alone).

But I suspect many years from now any historian of Formula 1 will find one name stands out after the Stewart/Fittipaldi years and before the Senna/Prost rivalry, and that name is Niki Lauda.


Rest in Peace

Terrible news. I remember as a kid in the 70s being glued to the TV when F1 was on. Real characters back then, Lauda was a fave along with James Hunt.

If anybody hasnt seen the film RUSH, I think its a great film and an excellent portrayal of the events of the 76 season. A must watch.

RIP Niki

Very Sad news
It was only last year he had a lung transplant which was claimed to be successful
A great driver
RIP

Very sad - RIP Niki.

Yes just waking up to the news which is quite a shock given his recent presence on F1 TV coverage here. For Austrians he is without doubt a hero and deserving of that epithet. He had courage, determination, a directness in dealing with people and obviously skills beyond the vocabulary. For me, his recovery from the crash and fire at the Nurburgring is one of the great stories of motorsport - and then to be bold and brave enough to lead the fight for safety - well, he was just remarkable.

"His driving was amazing to watch. There was a mix of great skill, great courage and a relentlessness in the pace that made him the undisputed champion of his era."

Very sad... RIP.

The film 'Rush' is well worth watching... an amazing man.

Very sad indeed, he wasn't just a great racer. As a co-moderator in German TV he was able to explain Formula 1 very clearly and excitingly over a very long period of time, even for less expert spectators. He was such an awake mind. RIP.

A real loss and very sad news. Always thought he had a very balanced view in his role at Mercedes and a real legend.

Yes a great loss. Good guy, very sucessful businessman and world class racing driver. RIP Niki.