Timeline Niki Lauda: Three Titles and a Comeback

Niki Lauda: Three Titles and a Comeback 14

• 1949 Niki Lauda born in Vienna Lauda is born in Vienna into a wealthy industrial family.
• 1974 Niki Lauda joins Ferrari Lauda wins his first Grand Prix, in Spain, in his first season with Ferrari.
• 1975 1975: Niki Lauda Ferrari Austrian Lauda won the first of his three titles with Ferrari, bringing the Italian team back to the top of the sport after a long drought.
• 1976 Niki Lauda crashes at the Nürburgring Laudas Ferrari bursts into flames. He suffers severe burns and is given the last rites in hospital.
• 1976 Niki Lauda returns at Monza Six weeks after his crash, Lauda finishes fourth at the Italian Grand Prix.
• 1976 Niki Lauda withdraws at Fuji In torrential rain, Lauda pulls out of the title decider after two laps, handing the championship to James Hunt.
• 1977 1977: Niki Lauda Ferrari Lauda won his second title, completing a remarkable comeback from his near-fatal 1976 accident. He left Ferrari acrimoniously at the end of the season.
• 1979 Niki Lauda founds Lauda Air Lauda starts his own airline, and retires from racing at the end of September.
• 1982 Niki Lauda returns to racing Lauda comes back with McLaren and wins in his third race, at Long Beach.
• 1984 1984: Niki Lauda McLaren Lauda won his third title by half a point — the narrowest margin in F1 history — beating his McLaren teammate Alain Prost. He retired at the end of the following season.
• 1984 Niki Lauda wins his third title Second in Portugal gives Lauda the title by half a point over team-mate Alain Prost, the smallest margin ever.
• 1991 Lauda Air Flight 004 crashes in Thailand A thrust reverser deploys in flight on a Boeing 767. All 223 people on board are killed.
• 2012 Niki Lauda joins Mercedes Lauda becomes non-executive chairman of the Mercedes Formula One team.
• 2019 Niki Lauda dies in Zurich Niki Lauda dies aged 70.