Niki Lauda, born Andreas Nikolaus Lauda on February 22, 1949, in Vienna, Austria, lived a life defined by speed, resilience, and an unyielding passion for racing. From his earliest days, he was captivated by the thrill of cars and the adrenaline of competition. Despite coming from a wealthy family with roots in paper manufacturing, his real dreams lay in the world of motorsport. Early Carrier Niki Lauda’s interest in racing was met with disapproval from his family, but this did not deter ... Learn about Niki Lauda, the Austrian Formula One legend who won three World Drivers' Championships with Ferrari and McLaren. Discover his career highlights, achievements, and legacy in motorsport. Andreas Nikolaus " Niki " Lauda (22 February 1949 – 20 May 2019) was an Austrian Formula One driver. He was a three-time F1 World Drivers' Champion, winning in 1975, 1977 and 1984. He was also an aviator, entrepreneur and writer. [1] He has founded and run two airlines and was manager of the Jaguar Formula One racing team for two years. In February 2018, Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda signed a deal at Mercedes until 2020. [2][3] Entrepreneur, former Formula 1 racing driver and three-time F1 World Champion was undoubtedly one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time.