Lauda made 58 starts for the Scuderia including the legendary Nürburgring race in 1976 that nearly took his life. Despite the severe injuries, he only missed the following two races and only his early abruption of the Japanese race of the season prevented the successful repeat of his success. The 1976 season became the pattern of the actual movie “Rush”, describing the challenge between Lauda and Hunt.
In 1977, Niki Lauda became Word Champion again for the Scuderia before he moved to Brabham and skipped out of the Formula 1 circus after the 1979 season not returning before 1982 when he joined McLaren for four further seasons becoming world champion again in 1984.
During his career with the Scuderia, Lauda raced thirteen different chassis: 011, 012, 014, 016, 018, 021, 022, 023, 024, 026, 028, 030 and 031. In 23 races of his 58 starts, Niki started from pole, 9 races became start-to-finish victories. 10 races became a not finish for Lauda and in one race –the 1977 Spanish GP- he did not participate because of an injury.
Lauda became founder of two airlines, Lauda Air and Niki Luftfahrt, and from 1993 to 1995 he acted as consultant for the Scuderia, working on new team structures of the unsuccessful race team. He was strongly involved to hire Michael Schumacher for the 1996 season.
Today, Niki Lauda is not only member of the Board of Mercedes-Benz, but working as a TV-expert for German TV station RTL during the GP weekends. However, Lauda’s visits to the Factory are still welcomed by the Scuderia – why not, he is one of the dominant drivers in the history of Ferrari, joining Ascari, Surtees and Michael Schumacher.
Niki Lauda‘s victories on Ferrari (taken from F-Register’s Formula Races-database)
28.04.74 Spain, Madrid, Circuito Permanente del Jarama, 312B3 #014
23.06.74 Netherlands, Zandvoort, Circuit Park, 312B3 #014
11.05.75 Monaco, Monte Carlo, Circuit de Monaco, 312 T # 018
25.05.75 Belgium, Heusden-Zolder, Circuit Zolder, 312 T, #022
08.06.75 Sweden, Anderstorp, Scandinavian Raceway, 312 T #021
06.07.75 France, Le Castellet, Circuit Paul Ricard, 312 T #024
05.10.75 USA, Watkins Glen, Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course, 312 T #024
25.01.76 Brazil, São Paulo, Interlagos , 312 T #023
06.03.76 South Africa, Midrand, Kyalami Circuit, 312 T #023
16.05.76 Belgium, Heusden-Zolder, Circuit Zolder, 312 T2 #026
30.05.76 Monaco, Monte Carlo, Circuit de Monaco, 312 T2, #026
18.07.76 Great Britain, Brands Hatch, 312 T2 #028
05.03.77 South Africa, Midrand, Kyalami Circuit, 312 T2 #030
31.07.77 Germany, Hockenheim, Hockenheimring, 312 T2 #031
28.08.77 Netherlands, Zandvoort, Circuit Park, 312 T2 #030