Niki Lauda

Niki Lauda is our fifth inductee and another five time world champion.

Lauda's early break in F1 came with the fledgling March team in 1971 where he was generally considered quick in an uncompetitive car. He moved in 1973 to the declining BRM team before his big break came in 1974 when he was snapped up by Ferrari following a recommendation from Clay Regazzoni.

The Ferrari team was going through a resurgance under the guidance of Luca di Montezemolo and were quick but unreliable in Lauda's first year.

After a slow start to the 75 season Lauda managed to gain four victories in five races to put him out in front and his first title was confirmed with victory at the season closing United States Grand Prix.

Lauda dominated the early part of 1976 and it looked certain he would become the first driver to win back to back titles since Jack Brabham sixteen years earlier. However events were to transpire against him when he suffered an horrific crash during the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. His rear suspension broke sending him crashing off the circuit and trapping him in his burning car. The quick thinking of fellow drivers Arturio Merzario, Guy Edwards and Harald Ertl managed to get him out of the car but he was in a serious way. After lapsing into a coma, a priest had even given him his last rights.

Amazingly Lauda was back to finish fourth at the Italian Grand Prix just six weeks later and still held a slender three point lead going into the final race of the season in Japan. After a torrential downpour Lauda pulled himself out of the race citing that the conditions were unsafe to race in, effectively handing the title to James Hunt.

Lauda cruised to the title in 1977 but his relationship with Ferrari had become strained and he left the team at the end of the season.

Two unsuccesful seasons with Brabham prompted the Austrians retirement but when in 1982 he needed to raise funds for his struggling airline company he returned to the cockpit with McLaren and was again competitive picking up a third title in 1984 pipping Alain Prost by half a point. He retired for good at the end of the 1985 season.