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| Niki Lauda, Austrian Formula 1 legend, dies at 70 | Niki Lauda, Austrian Formula 1 legend, dies at 70 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda has died at the age of 70. | |
| The legendary Austrian, one of the best-known figures in motor racing, took the title for Ferrari in 1975 and 1977 and McLaren in 1984. | |
| For many, he will be remembered for his remarkable recovery and return to racing after being badly burned in a crash in the 1976 German Grand Prix. | For many, he will be remembered for his remarkable recovery and return to racing after being badly burned in a crash in the 1976 German Grand Prix. |
| Lauda, who underwent a lung transplant in August, "passed away peacefully" on Monday, his family said. | |
| After his career as a racing driver, he became an airline entrepreneur and, most recently, a non-executive chairman for the Formula 1 Mercedes team, instrumental in bringing in British driver Lewis Hamilton, who has won five world championships. | After his career as a racing driver, he became an airline entrepreneur and, most recently, a non-executive chairman for the Formula 1 Mercedes team, instrumental in bringing in British driver Lewis Hamilton, who has won five world championships. |
| "His unique achievements as an athlete and entrepreneur are and will remain unforgettable, his tireless zest for action, his straightforwardness and his courage remain a role model and a benchmark for all of us," his family's statement said. | "His unique achievements as an athlete and entrepreneur are and will remain unforgettable, his tireless zest for action, his straightforwardness and his courage remain a role model and a benchmark for all of us," his family's statement said. |
| On 1 August 1976, one year after winning his first title, he suffered third-degree burns to his head and face and inhaled toxic gases that damaged his lungs after his vehicle burst into flames at Nurburgring. | On 1 August 1976, one year after winning his first title, he suffered third-degree burns to his head and face and inhaled toxic gases that damaged his lungs after his vehicle burst into flames at Nurburgring. |
| He was given the last rites in hospital but made an almost miraculous recovery and returned to racing, still bandaged, just 40 days later. | |
| British former F1 champion Jenson Button has called him a "legend" while McLaren said Lauda would be "enshrined in our history". | British former F1 champion Jenson Button has called him a "legend" while McLaren said Lauda would be "enshrined in our history". |
| Lauda's rivalry with British driver James Hunt, the 1976 world champion, was portrayed in the acclaimed film Rush in 2013. | |
| He underwent two kidney transplants, the second kidney donated in 2005 by his then-girlfriend Birgit Wetzinger, a former flight attendant for his airline whom he married in 2008. | He underwent two kidney transplants, the second kidney donated in 2005 by his then-girlfriend Birgit Wetzinger, a former flight attendant for his airline whom he married in 2008. |
| Besides their twins, a boy and a girl born in 2009, Lauda also had three sons from previous relationships. | Besides their twins, a boy and a girl born in 2009, Lauda also had three sons from previous relationships. |
| In January, Lauda spent some 10 days in hospital while suffering from influenza. | In January, Lauda spent some 10 days in hospital while suffering from influenza. |