Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda is an Austrian former Formula One driver who was the three-time F1 World Champion, winning in 1975, 1977 and 1984. More recently an aviation entrepreneur, he has founded and run two airlines. He was also a consultant for Scuderia Ferrari and team manager of the Jaguar Formula One racing team for two years. He is currently working as a pundit for German TV during Grand Prix weekends and acts as non-executive chairman of the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team. Lauda was seriously injured in a crash at the 1976 German Grand Prix at the N�rburgring, during which his Ferrari burst into flames and he came close to death after inhaling hot toxic fumes and suffering severe burns. However he recovered and returned to race again just six weeks later at the Italian Grand Prix. Scars from the injuries he suffered have left him permanently disfigured. [More at Wikipedia]

February 22nd, 1949 in Vienna  /  Died:   May 20th, 2019 - aged 70 at University Hospital Zurich