RIP Niki Lauda

[dessiato]

A truly great driver in his day. I'm sure all of us who followed F1 in its heyday will have positive memories of his driving.

Even those who don't follow F1 I'm sure will know of him.

Niki Lauda, Austrian Formula 1 legend, dies at 70 - Austrian F1 legend Niki Lauda dies at 70

RIP, thanks for making F1 what it was.

 

[maomao]

Niki who?

 

[a_chap]

Saddened by the news; I saw him race (and win) in the early '80s. Saw him a couple of times since in the Ferrari garage. Always surprised how small he was in real life.

Impressed that his death was the headline news article on the radio.

 

[Sprocket.]

Saddened but not shocked, I’d read he had not been well since his last operation. Outstanding that he survived so long after Nurburgring in 76.
Truly inspirational in a time when Formula 1 meant something.

RIP Niki Lauda. Champion.

 

[ricbake]

Exceptional man and phenomenal race driver

RIP

 

[Pickman's model]

Very sad, rip

 

[StoneRoad]

Sad news, Niki was a good driver and sportsman. (And I don't follow F1 in any sort of detail)

 

[Chilli.s]

RIP Niki Lauda A true champion

 

[felixthecat]

Even I know he's a legend and I don't follow F1.

RIP Niki

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Raced - - and came 4th - in a GP just 6 weeks after being given the last rites.

One of the sports true greats. RIP.

 

[dessiato]

I posted this both here and on the F1 thread because I thought he was a man known to fans and those within the sport, and by others. The comments already being posted show this was the case.

Surely this is a true indicator of how great he was.

 

[Crispy]

He owned a small airline and flew a plane I was on once. Wondered why there were TV cameras at the airport, then "hello this is your pilot Niki Lauda speaking, welcome on board"

 

[skyscraper101]

70 seems pretty young these days.

 

[Sprocket.]

70 seems pretty young these days.

His lungs were badly damaged in the fire, he had a lung transplant last year and suffered from bouts of pneumonia.
70 is young but he had some major difficulties to overcome.

 

[marty21]

RIP , I remember the great 1976 F1 season with James Hunt , incredible comeback from the crash .

 

[Pickman's model]

RIP , I remember the great 1976 F1 season with James Hunt , incredible comeback from the crash .

yeh my brother was a great lauda fan while i backed james hunt

 

[spitfire]

That's a shame, I always liked Niki's input before and after the GP's. He was a straight talker by F1 standards.

And as to his driving days and recovery from his accident, a real fighter. I was too young to witness it first hand but have heard all about it since.

RIP Niki.

 

[FabricLiveBaby!]

Aww that's sad.

I used to fly with Lauda Air to Austria, where we'd be picked up and taken over the border to Hungary when I was a youngun. Visiting the famalam was the happiest time of the year for me.

He gave me many happy memories.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

His lungs were badly damaged in the fire, he had a lung transplant last year and suffered from bouts of pneumonia.
70 is young but he had some major difficulties to overcome.

Yeah, he should have been dead in '76, so every day after that has been a bonus. And he filled those days to full. Lauda Air is no more, but Laudamotion lives on, tied in with Ryanair. And he's been instrumental in the massive success of Lewis Hamilton/Mercedes.

RIP.