Niki Lauda wife, crash, net worth, james hunt, age, children

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<p>Niki Lauda was a legendary Formula 1 <a href="/biography/niki-lauda">race car driver</a> best known for his remarkable career, resilience after a near-fatal crash, and his celebrated rivalry with fellow <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hunt">driver</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hunt">James Hunt</a>.</p>

<h2>Early Life and Passion for Racing</h2>

<p>Born <a href="/biography/niki-lauda">Andreas Nikolaus Lauda</a> on February 22, 1949, in Vienna, Austria, Lauda came from a prosperous family. Despite strong family opposition, he developed an early fascination with cars and motorsports. As a teenager, he indulged in driving relatives' vehicles and racing through the Austrian countryside in a 1949 Volkswagen Beetle convertible. His passion soon evolved into ambition, and he entered his first formal race in 1968, where he notably finished second.</p>

<h2>Rise Through the Ranks and Ferrari Success</h2>

<p>Lauda advanced through the Formula 3 and Formula 2 circuits, financing his racing aspirations through bank loans. His persistency paid off when he secured a position on the prestigious Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team in 1974. At the time, Ferrari had not won a drivers’ championship since 1964. Within a year, Lauda revitalized the brand’s reputation by claiming the 1975 championship with several commanding performances that season.</p>

<h2>1976 Crash and Remarkable Comeback</h2>

<p>Lauda’s career nearly came to an end during the 1976 German Grand Prix at Nürburgring, where a crash engulfed his car in flames. He sustained severe burns to his head and hands and suffered lung damage from inhaling toxic fumes. Lauda fell into a coma and was given last rites. In a remarkable recovery, he returned to racing just six weeks later, despite being permanently scarred. His rival, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hunt">James Hunt</a>, went on to win five races that season and narrowly claimed the World Championship, intensifying their famed rivalry.</p>

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<h2>Later Career and Retirement</h2>

<p>Lauda regained the World Championship in 1977 before temporarily retiring from Formula 1 in 1979 to pursue business interests, including founding his own airline, Lauda Air. He made a successful comeback in the 1980s, racing for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren">McLaren</a> and clinching his third and final championship in 1984. He retired permanently in 1985 and later served in executive roles for multiple F1 teams, including Ferrari and Mercedes-AMG Petronas, where he mentored future <a href="/biography/lewis-hamilton">champion</a> <a href="/biography/lewis-hamilton">Lewis Hamilton</a>.</p>

<p>Lauda passed away on May 20, 2019, at the age of 70. In a touching tribute, <a href="/biography/lewis-hamilton">Lewis Hamilton</a> dedicated his 2019 Monaco Grand Prix victory to his late mentor, cementing Lauda’s enduring influence on modern Formula 1 racing.</p>

<h2>Personal Life and Family</h2>

<p>Niki Lauda was married twice. His first marriage was to Marlene Knaus, a former model and socialite, in 1976. The couple had two sons: Mathias, who became a professional race car driver, and Lukas, who managed Mathias’s career. The marriage ended in 1991. During their union, Lauda fathered another son, Christoph, with another woman, which contributed to the breakdown of the marriage.</p>

<p>In 2008, Lauda married Birgit Wetzinger, a former flight attendant 30 years his junior. In 2009, the couple welcomed twins, Max and Mia. Notably, Birgit had previously donated a kidney to Niki, underscoring their close bond.</p>

<h2>Net Worth and Business Ventures</h2>

<p>At the time of his death, Niki Lauda's net worth was estimated at approximately $200 million, according to CelebrityNetWorth.com. His wealth was accumulated through his successful racing career, aviation ventures, and management roles in Formula 1.</p>

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