Niki Lauda

Nationality: Austria
Date of Birth: 22 February 1949 - 20 May 2019
Drivers championships: 1975, 1977, 1984
Grand Prix victories: 25
Races started: 171
Pole positions: 24
Teams: McLaren 1982 - 1985, Brabham 1978 - 1979, Ferrari 1974 - 1977, BRM 1973, March 1971 - 1972

Niki Lauda career

Niki Lauda's start into F1 was difficult as the March and BRM teams were in decline. A move to the resurgent Ferrari team in 1974 brought success with drivers championships in 1974 and 1977. In 1976 an accident at the German GP led to him being badly burnt and needing plastic surgery. His relation ship with Ferrari declined in 1977 after pulling out of the last race of 1976 saying git was to dangerous. An unsuccessful move to Brabham led to his retirement after 1979 to concentrate on his business interests. A return to F1 in 1982 was driven by financial reason, but he showed his ability by winning the 1984 championship ad then returned to his business interests after the 1985 season.

1985

Team: McLaren
Position: 10
Points: 14
Race wins: 1
Pole positions: 0
This was a difficult final season in F1 with 11 retirements but he did win one race this year.

1984

Team: McLaren
Position: 1
Points: 72
Race wins: 5
Pole positions: 0
This was his third drivers championship in which he had 9 podium finishes but also 6 non-finishes.

1983

Team: McLaren
Position: 10
Points: 12
Race wins: 0
Pole positions: 0
This was a difficult year as the team moved from the Ford DFV to the Porsche turbo.

1982

Team: McLaren
Position: 5
Points: 30
Race wins: 2
Pole positions: 0
His return to F1 for McLaren was mixed with some non-finishes but also two race wins.

1979

Team: Brabham
Position: 14
Points: 4
Race wins: 0
Pole positions: 0
This was a difficult season as he only completed 2 races and he retired with a few races left in the season.

1978

Team: Brabham
Position: 4
Points: 44
Race wins: 2
Pole positions: 1
This was a very mixed season at Brabham. He was on the podium for all the races that he finished, but he also had 9 non-finishes.

1977

Team: Ferrari
Position: 1
Points: 72
Race wins: 3
Pole positions: 2
This season he won his second drivers championship despite deteriorating relationship with Ferrari. He was consistent with 10 podium finishes but only 3 race wins.

1976

Team: Ferrari
Position: 2
Points: 68
Race wins: 5
Pole positions: 3
He got off to a good start with 8 podiums in the first 9 races. He then suffered serious burns in a crash at the Nürburgring. He also controversially refused to race in the final race of the season in Japan because he said the rain made it unsafe.

1975

Team: Ferrari
Position: 1
Points: 64.5
Race wins: 5
Pole positions: 8
This season was the first of his three drivers championship. He had 8 podium finishes.

1974

Team: Ferrari
Position: 4
Points: 38
Race wins: 2
Pole positions: 8
His performance the previous season had impressed Enzo Ferrari who signed him. He had 5 podium finished in the 7 races he completed, but he also had 8 non-finishes.

1973

Team: BRM
Position: 18
Points: 2
Race wins: 0
Pole positions: 0
The move to BRM was not successful as it underpowered and unreliable.

1972

Team: March
Position: NC
Points: 0
Race wins: 0
Pole positions: 8
This was a difficult season though he got the best out of the car.