The formula 1 is in mourning and wears red: according to Niki Laudas brand mark – a red cap – will the Motorsport king class at the Grand Prix in Monaco to the deceased heroes of the series.
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Mourning for Niki Lauda
A Mercedes star in Ferrari Red? What is the guardian of the Corporate design by the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer is actually unthinkable, it will be seen this weekend in Monaco, in all of the camera settings. Mercedes intends to do at the Grand Prix of Monte Carlo formula 1 legend with the inscription “Thank you Niki” on two cars, a red star is emblazoned on the engine cover. It is only a Symbol of homage to Niki Lauda, and many more will be. The formula 1 of bows and in one place, you can better choose hardly had.
Monaco, the magical route through the Principality and its Marina, has always been the glittering Highlight of every season. There, where the Fans are so close, like nowhere in the formula 1 circus, also felt Niki Lauda very well. Two Times he won (1975 and 1976), two Times he was runner-up (1977 and 1978), three Times he drove to the pole position (1974-1976). Six days before the 77. Grand Prix of Monaco died Niki Lauda at the age of 70 after a long hospital stay. The formula 1 is reacted with grief and dedicates the next race the Austrians.
The teams of formula 1 bow in front of Lauda – here at Torro Rosso
Niki Lauda drives
A minute of silence, according to reports in the media before the race on Sunday is planned, probably also a memorial Video on the screens. The formula 1 and owner Liberty Media has not communicated the plans but. Meanwhile, pay tribute to riders and racing teams to the deceased pilots their respect. Laudas Ex-employer Ferrari decorated both of his cars to the side boxes with thin black bars and the lettering Niki Lauda in the playful Font that had been used by the Austrians in active Ferrari-times (1974 to 1977).
Ferrari’s Star driver Sebastian Vettel (Heppenheim) made even in the short term, a red helmet in Lauda-Design, to read in black letters, the Name of the three-time Champions. “Niki leaves behind a gap that will be difficult to fill. He was a true racing icon,” said the 31-Year-old in the race preparations in the Principality.
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Niki Lauda: the man with The red capIn the formula 1 purchased
Already as a young driver there is for Niki Lauda the formula 1. In 1971, the then 22-Year-old in the team again, March comes at a cost. Three years later, Lauda has convinced the legendary Enzo Ferrari of his Talent. From then on, he starts for the “Scuderia Ferrari”. His first of a total of 25 Grand Prix Victories, he celebrates in April 1974 in Spain.
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Niki Lauda: the man with The red capThe first world title in 1975
Already in his second year at Ferrari, Lauda is given the “Red” the long-awaited world championship title – the first for Ferrari since winning the title from John Surtees in 1964. In five of 14 races this season, Lauda is right at the top of the pedestal, such as here at the Grand Prix in Le Castellet, he wins in front of the British James Hunt (l.).
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Niki Lauda: the man with The red capAccident on the Nordschleife
Also in 1976, is Lauda to five Wins and two second places on course for the title, as it on 1. August, the fate On the legendary Nordschleife of the nürburgring, the Ferrari’s are in a tailspin, crashing into the guard rails and catches fire. Other racers Lauda to pull out of the burning Ferrari. For four days he struggles with death. He survived by a miracle.
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Niki Lauda: the man with The red cap“My life is more important than the title”
Only seven weeks after his terrible accident Lauda gives his formula 1 Comeback. Before the last race in Fuji in Japan, the Austrian, leads the world Cup standings, just ahead of James Hunt. In the pouring rain, Lauda put his Ferrari after two laps. “The race was amazing. My life is more important to me than the title,” he says afterwards. Hunt is the third and thus the champion of the world.
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Niki Lauda: the man with The red capSecond world championship title in 1977
Since his exit at Fuji, Lauda has a hard time at Ferrari. He answers the critics in his own way: With three Grand Prix Victories in Hockenheim (image) and seven other podium finishes Lauda 1977 world champion for second Time. After the season, the world champion will switch to Brabham. The red cap of a sponsor is now Laudas trademark
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Niki Lauda: the man with The red capThe third world title in 1984
In 1979, Lauda is back as a formula 1 driver: “I suddenly felt that there are more important things in life, as with the car in the circle drive around.” In 1982 Lauda gives his Comeback with McLaren. Two years later, he is for the third Time world champion. A half-point lead separates him from team-mate Alain Prost (r.) – the closest distance of the formula 1 history.
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Niki Lauda: the man with The red capFlight entrepreneurs
His last formula 1 race Lauda in November 1985, he then retires for the second Time, this time permanently. In 1979, after his first resignation, was founded by the Austrians, his own airline: Lauda Air. After he has gone from racing, he devoted himself primarily to his flight company. In 1990, Lauda Air receives the license in the world to offer flights.
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Niki Lauda: the man with The red capPlane crash in Thailand
In may 1991, a Boeing crashes 767 the Lauda Air to the North of Bangkok. All of the 223 occupants are killed. Lauda visited the crash site and is plagued by self-doubt: “If I’m with a formula 1 car against the guardrail of thunder,’ and the dead – your own fault. That’s a risk I’ve chosen,” said Lauda in an Interview. “When flying, but I’ve chosen’ no risk, on the contrary.”
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Niki Lauda: the man with The red capFormula 1 return as a consultant
In 1992, Niki Lauda back in the Premier class of sports car racing. Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo brings him in as a consultant to the Scuderia. Lauda has been a key part of Michael Schumacher (l.) switches to Ferrari in 1996. Little successfully Laudas time as race Director and then team boss of the formula 1 team Jaguar runs later. At the end of 2002, Lauda is kicked out.
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Niki Lauda: the man with The red capResponsible for Mercedes-domination
As the Mercedes Team in 2012, is the obligation of the British pilot Lewis Hamilton (l.) for the following season, announced the group at the same time that Niki does, Lauda is the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the racing team. Lauda is also the most successful period in the history of the silver arrows: in 2014, Mercedes dominated the formula 1 and brings five world championship drivers ‘ title in the series.
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Niki Lauda: the man with The red capTwo marriages, five children
For 15 years, from 1976 up to the divorce in 1991, holds Laudas marriage with his first wife Marlene, with whom he has two sons. Another son he has a illegitimate relationship. 2008 Lauda marries again. With his second wife Birgit (l.) he has a son and a daughter. The twins will be born in 2009, with 60 years of Lauda is still time father.
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Niki Lauda: the man with The red capPeacefully asleep
Laudas accident in 1976 at the Nürburgring of late has consequences. He receives two donor kidneys: in 1997, his younger brother, Florian, 2005, with his future wife, Birgit. In the summer of 2018 must pass Lauda a lung transplant. In the last few weeks, his condition deteriorates. 20. In may, it is reported that Lauda was “asleep in the circle of his family, peacefully”.
On the Toro Rosso cars was on Wednesday already, the lettering “Thank you Niki”, and the mark emblazoned in Black-and-White, the likeness of Laudas in front of his heavy fire accident in 1976. Also Ferrari customer, Haas thought Laudas with a special font. And the seem to be certainly no public duty to exercises the F1 to be protagonists. World champion Lewis Hamilton initially did not talk at all about the loss of his role model. His Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was on Wednesday a media round move.
Both of them had on the phone, according to a report the “Bild”-newspaper is still in the night after Laudas death on Monday for an hour to process the grief together. Like him, it will go to many Motorsport fans, the Lauda as a pilot, Manager and TV experts each year at the track have seen. On the bleachers at the racetrack, red caps are likely to be at least not uncommon.
“This barren sponsors Dinner in Monaco”
While the shock in Laudas environment is still sitting deep, it seemed Lauda, the transience to be always aware of. “We haven’t had to confront that we may be there tomorrow. We lived faster. Intense,” said Lauda once. That his life could take on the fast Lane to a sudden end, it was Lauda at the latest, after his spectacular accident at the Nürburgring in 1976. After a crash nearly 200 litres of petrol and Lauda inflamed was surrounded by fire. The consequences of the accident, the native of Vienna felt well into old age. He strikes from the rear, such as a lung transplant will not get you down and back berappelte, made him once more a role model for his followers.
Only the race mattered: Niki Lauda at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1983
So Niki Lauda will be on Sunday, omnipresent when the cars through the narrow streets of the Côte d’azur thunder. Between the champagne glasses, canapés and small talk at the edge of the track Niki Lauda himself was, incidentally, never really comfortable. “Alone in this desolate sponsors Dinner in Monaco before the Grand Prix”, told Lauda in an Interview with the Austrian news magazine “Profil” in 2009. “What the President of the GATT kissed I as good inside the hands just got. And on the inside only of the rate ticked in me is always: How do I get as quickly as possible to get out of here?” So he was. The race was all that mattered really.