The fireball at the Nürburgring — three world championships and the most remarkable survival in motorsport.
Andreas Nikolaus Lauda was born in Vienna, Austria in 1949. He won three Formula 1 World Championships. On August 1 1976 at the Nürburgring he crashed and his Ferrari burst into flames — he was trapped in the burning car for more than a minute before other drivers pulled him free. He suffered severe burns and inhaled toxic fumes that damaged his lungs. Remarkably he returned to racing six weeks later at Monza. He lost the 1976 championship to James Hunt by one point after voluntarily withdrawing from the Japanese Grand Prix in monsoon conditions — his decision generating the most discussed individual mid-race withdrawal in F1 history. The 2013 film Rush is based on the Lauda-Hunt rivalry. He died from kidney failure in 2019.
Near-fatal 1976 Nürburgring crash and miraculous comeback
How They Played
Technical precision, methodical setup work, exceptional racecraft
Lasting Impact
One of F1's greatest drivers, known for analytical approach and incredible determination
F1 World Champion 3x (1975,1977,1984)
Career Honours
- F1 World Champion 3x (1975,1977,1984)
- Race wins 25