For many F1 fans and team members, May 20, 2019, was a dark day. Niki Lauda, a racing legend, passed away in May. Many people were in mourning after the racer died at the age of 70, and his death marked the end of his proud legacy. We were saddened by the death of the race circuit’s speed monster.
Early Life of Niki Lauda
The Formula One legend was born in 1949 in Vienna to a wealthy family. He turns 70 on February 22, 2019, and died on May 20, 2019. Niki received little support from his father, Ernst-Peter Lauda, and mother, Elisabeth Lauda.
His parents pushed him to take over the family business. However, the child was determined to be a track racer. Niki also had a brother, Florian Lauda. Niki had a height of 5 feet 7 inches and a weight of 65 kg before his death.
How much is Niki Lauda Net Worth?
Many Formula 1 fans regarded Niki as one of the best racers to ever take to the track. He was a role model for man racers. The Austrian racer astounded his fans by winning 25 Grands Prix on his way to titles in 1975, 1977, and 1984
Furthermore, he received endorsements from major racing brands such as Ferrari and McLaren, which aided in the accumulation of his net worth. In addition to racing, he was the owner of Lauda Air and Flyniki. Niki was estimated to have a net worth of $100 million dollars. However, after Niki’s death, the wealth is to be distributed to his family.
Niki Lauda Cause of Death
On 20 May 2019, F1 fans were shocked to learn of the death of their beloved F1 racer, Niki Lauda. According to reports from Austria, the champion died in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Niki died at the University Hospital of Zurich, where he was receiving dialysis treatment for kidney problems, at the age of 70. Nonetheless, the racer had a series of unfortunate illnesses that affected his health. Niki, on the other hand, died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by those he loved.
Who is Niki Lauda’s wife?
In 1976, the Austrian racer married his first wife Marlene Knaus. Furthermore, from his first marriage, Niki and his wife had two children: Matthias Lauda and Lukas Lauda. However, the couple said their final goodbyes when they divorced in 1991.
Following his divorce, the racer entered into an extra-marital relationship, from which he fathered another son. As the saying goes, the third time is the charm, and Niki met his life partner, Birgit Wetzinger while working as a flight attendant at his own airline, Flyniki. Niki developed kidney failure after only a few months of dating and required a kidney donor.
Nonetheless, his soon-to-be wife stepped in and donated her kidney. After three years, the couple married, proving their love for each other despite their 30 year age difference. Mia and Max Lauda, the couple’s twins, were born. Birgit is depressed after her husband’s death.
The Career of Niki Lauda
Niki also had some bad luck on the track during his career, which contributed to his illness. In 1976, his Ferrari slammed into a barrier and burst into tall flames before being hit by a car at high speed. When the medics pulled him out of his car, his face, scalp, and right ear were severely burned, and his lungs were suffering from the fumes
However, the accident did not deter the rider, who returned to racing after only six weeks. In 1997 and 2005, the Austrian racer underwent two kidney transplants. He also had a double lung transplant last August.
When the news of Niki Lauda’s death broke, many current and famous drivers and teams expressed their admiration for him as a hero and paid tribute to his legacy. Social media was flooded with prayers and support for the racer and his family.
