He is a Legend: Niki Lauda

Formula 1 is one of the fastest sports in motorsport, and this high speed can sometimes compromise the lives of pilots. In particular, there have been pilots who have lost their lives in the past years.

Today, thanks to the safety measures taken by Formula 1 management and the safety technologies it requires to be present in the vehicles, pilots can get rid of without injuries even in severe accidents, but this was not so in the past. Niki Lauda is the protagonist of an accident in Formula 1 vehicles during periods when safety measures were lower.

Born into a wealthy family, Lauda was considered one of Formula One's first pay drivers. Still, his family heavily disapproved of racing, so he therefore entered his way into F1 with a bank loan. However, he was found to be good and managed to find a drive with the March team in both F1 and Formula 2, making his debut at his home race in 1971. In 1973, he tested for the declining BRM team, and despite proving his speed, only scored two points in the season.

In 1974, his career changed. BRM teammate, Clay Regazzoni, moved back to Ferrari, and as Ferrari did not have a second driver, they inquired about Lauda to Regazzoni. Regazzoni thought highly of Lauda's ability and Ferrari signed him, allowing Lauda to pay his bank loans. A good first season followed, starting with a second place, and despite ending the season with five consecutive retirements, Lauda scored two wins and nine pole positions. The next season was even better, Lauda calling it "the unbelievable year". Lauda also won the last race to take his first championship. However, Lauda had a massive crash at the Nürburgring, in which he nearly died in his burning car. His chances of survival were so slim that he was given last rites. It was later discovered that Lauda had been wearing a helmet that did not meet the regulations. The helmet was wider and contained more padded foam for extra comfort. In the impact, the foam compressed and allowed the helmet to slip from Lauda's head. Had he been wearing a regulation helmet, the helmet would have had a greater chance of staying on his head and prevented facial damage from burns. Unbelievably though, Lauda returned after just 39 days, having missed two races, and he almost won the championship, being beaten by James Hunt after withdrawing (on safety grounds) in the extremely wet conditions at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Although Niki Lauda was right-handed from the giant fire, her head, pupils, lungs, and ears were all burned. Naturally, the toxic gases of the fire also made his lungs miserable. Laudadan doctors who underwent emergency surgeries in a row and his family had been cut off and even priests were arranged for his funeral, but the champion had no intention of dying without seeing new championships.

Although it sounds strange right now, Niki Lauda returned to the tracks after only 6 weeks. No one expected death to return from its edge and be so good. For this reason, Niki Lauda is known as a legend born from his ashes in the true sense.

Lauda could not leave Formula 1 after his retirement. In 2012 he joined the Mercedes team as an honorary president. The pilot, whose lungs were damaged in the catastrophic accident, began to show the effects of the accident. Lauda, who underwent a lung transplant in 2018, was hospitalized due to the infection he contracted during the transfer. Legendary driver, also known to suffer from kidney failure, died at the age of 70. He died while sleeping in the hospital on May 20, 2019. During the 2019 Monaco GP week, he was remembered by teams and pilots. Hamilton dedicated his victory to him. Mercedes has been carrying a red Niki star in its vehicle ever since.