Three-time F1 champion Niki Lauda has left a lasting impression on the whole of the motor racing community as they unite to pay homage on his death.
Tuesday started on a sad note for F1 and the whole of motor racing community with the news of the passing of Lauda, who couldn’t win his final battle after the lung transplant he underwent last year. He died at the age of 70-years with three F1 titles to his name.
Doctors and people close to him haven’t detailed his last days but all spoke about his worsening condition where it started to become clear that it will be tough for Lauda to return to a normal life, leave along being at the F1 tracks.
He had been in and out of the hospital multiple times in the period with his family and friends visiting him. While it was a shock news of his death late on Monday, May 20, 2019, but not hugely surprising given his condition after the lung transplant.
Since his passing, the whole motor racing community united to mourn his death with championships like MotoGP, Formula E, DTM sharing messages along with various drivers/riders, teams and many more doing their bit.
While we cannot add all of them here, but we have selected as many we could of the key personalities from across the world, who wrote about Lauda:
My buddy, I am struggling to believe you are gone. I will miss our conversations, our laughs, the big hugs after winning…
Publiée par Lewis Hamilton sur Mardi 21 mai 2019
Dear Niki… pic.twitter.com/nsJk2z1qAM
— Nico Rosberg (@nico_rosberg) May 21, 2019
#CiaoNiki https://t.co/xDeQzbYQQN pic.twitter.com/lsBD29XURD
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/McLarenF1/status/1130835574116503552
Sad to hear the great Niki Lauda has seen his last chequered flag, what a man and driver, there hasn’t been anyone like him. His contribution to the sport and for us the #Brabham racing family has been immense. #RIPNikiLauda #F1 #Brabham @BrabhamOfficial @brabhamauto pic.twitter.com/aCKznLhU9B
— David Brabham (@brabsracer) May 21, 2019
With deep sorrow and sincere respect, @MercedesBenz bids farewell to one of the greats: Niki Lauda.
He will always be remembered as a three-time @F1 champion, passionate entrepreneur, the Chairman of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport and above all: as a wonderful human being. pic.twitter.com/XQeBqWVih6
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) May 21, 2019
RIP the Great #NikiLauda. Here’s our last meeting in #MonteCarlo in ‘18 We first met while making the movie Rush. The F1 world knows of his grit & intensely competitive spirit, but that matched w/his keen intelligence & wisdom made him a distinctively remarkable man. a force. pic.twitter.com/SMizNt9Hge
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) May 21, 2019
Niki was a champion. He was an icon. He was an Austrian treasure. He was one of my dear friends. I will miss this generous, trailblazing hero with my whole heart. https://t.co/9Eq9jp4qMK
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) May 21, 2019
Words cannot describe how sad I am to hear of Niki's death. He was a truly great friend of dad's and the whole Hunt family! He gave me so much great advice over the years. My thoughts go out to Mathias and the whole Lauda family. #RIPNiki #HuntLauda pic.twitter.com/ypbfe22RAo
— Freddie Hunt (@freddiehunt76) May 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/DTM/status/1130813672656384000
Admired, adored and respected throughout the motorsport community ❤️
MotoGP remembers the legendary Niki Lauda pic.twitter.com/4cK87gMs6Y
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) May 21, 2019
My heart is heavy today, mourning the loss of a colleague and friend. Niki Lauda… a true-blue wonderful man pic.twitter.com/iOLPAZ9NG1
— Mario Andretti (@MarioAndretti) May 21, 2019
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxuQOVXHMSZ/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Such a sad loss, Niki was a legend of the sport and an inspiration to so many. Thoughts are with his loved ones.
— Nigel Mansell CBE (@nigelmansell) May 21, 2019
Former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone remembers Niki Lauda ❤️ pic.twitter.com/WZ6qFZ6tv0
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) May 21, 2019
Shocked by the loss of Niki Lauda. He was a true legend in our sport and someone I had great respect for. May he rest in peace #RIPNiki pic.twitter.com/NCCduqNQuU
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) May 21, 2019
Here’s the @FIA #HallofFame video in tribute to #NikiLauda #F1 : pic.twitter.com/eYD15UgTAl
— Jean Todt (@JeanTodt) May 21, 2019
"Racing was my life, was my job, I’d take the chance because I like it, even though every year one or two gets killed, for me it was essential."
"I hope they say I was always straightforward. No b******* or grey areas I hate that."
Remembering the legend, Niki Lauda. pic.twitter.com/jhP2mDsISA
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) May 21, 2019
Earlier today, LaudaMotion A320 OE-LMB conducted a special flypast at Vienna Airport with a special message written in the windows, ‘Niki wir vermissen dich!’ — “Niki we miss you!’ to mark the passing of Formula 1 and aviation legend Niki Lauda.https://t.co/zsgz3No4RX pic.twitter.com/BEAn3t4JXj
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) May 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/marcmarquez93/status/1130735117394153473
https://twitter.com/SChecoPerez/status/1130774586210095104
https://twitter.com/alo_oficial/status/1130714375994712065
Very saddened to hear that Niki Lauda has passed away. One of the last proper heroes of our sport, a true gentleman, and a great human. RIP // Muy triste por el fallecimiento de Niki Lauda. Uno de los auténticos héroes de nuestro deporte, todo un señor y una gran persona. DEP pic.twitter.com/GZjI6yG5A8
— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) May 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/KevinMagnussen/status/1130790490499162112
Farewell, legend.
Publiée par Red Bull Ring sur Mardi 21 mai 2019
Musei Ferrari pays homage to #NikiLauda, an amazing champion, a visionary entrepreneur and a great man. His name and his achievements will always be at the heart of the @ScuderiaFerrari history. #CiaoNiki pic.twitter.com/TMKdh8ruIV
— Musei Ferrari (@MuseiFerrari) May 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/F1/status/1130942087921262592
