Niki Lauda was born into a wealthy family in Vienna, but he refused to let his privileged upbringing dictate his path in life. Despite his family's disapproval and refusal to finance his racing career, Lauda persisted, racing in the lower ranks and eventually catching the attention of legendary car builder Enzo Ferrari.
Ferrari saw something special in Lauda and offered him a chance to drive for the iconic "Prancing Horse" team. Lauda's hard work and dedication paid off, as he came close to winning the World Championship in 1974 and then secured the title the following year with a dominating season.
Lauda's success was not without its challenges, however. In 1976, he was involved in a devastating crash at the Nurburgring in Germany, which left him with severe burns and a long road to recovery. Miraculously, Lauda was back racing just six weeks later, and although he ultimately lost the championship by a single point to James Hunt, his determination and resilience in the face of adversity earned him widespread admiration.
After a brief retirement, Lauda returned to racing in 1982, this time driving for McLaren. He won his third and final championship with the team in 1984, and retired for good in 1985 with 25 career wins and a reputation as one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history.
Today, Lauda is the founder, CEO, and occasional pilot of Lauda Air, the second-largest commercial airline in Austria. He also serves as a consultant for Ferrari, the team that played a significant role in his racing career.
