During his remarkable F1 career Niki Lauda was called both a hero and a villain. The battle-scarred champion who defied both the odds and convention remains a sporting legend. 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. Born into a prosperous Austrian business banking dynasty, Niki Lauda outraged his family by borrowing $30,000 to buy a place in the March F1™ team for 1972 alongside Ronnie Peterson. Niki Lauda is one of the most influential figures in Formula 1 history. The Austrian won three world titles and enjoyed great success on the Mercedes F1 board after his retirement. Andreas Nikolas (Niki) Lauda was born on February 22, 1949 in Vienna, Austria to a wealthy paper-manufacturing family ...