Niki Lauda is a legend of Formula 1 racing. © APA/afp / JORGE GUERRERO

The 50th anniversary of Niki Lauda's accident at the Nürburgring is approaching.

Next Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of Niki Lauda's spectacular fire crash at the Nürburgring. Austria's three-time Formula 1 world champion, who died in May 2019, crashed into the barriers on the German racetrack on August 1, 1976, after a mechanical failure, and sat in his burning Ferrari for over half a minute.

July 28, 2026

From: dpa/det

Lauda survived the crash and went on to become Formula 1 champion twice more. After the initial crash, Lauda's Ferrari burst into flames. When Brett Lunger, following behind, crashed into the wreckage, the Austrian lost his helmet and was knocked unconscious. Several competitors rushed to his aid, and Arturo Merzario eventually pulled the world champion from the burning car.

Lauda was hospitalized with life-threatening burns, severe injuries, and a badly damaged lung. He subsequently underwent several skin grafts and fought for his life.

Rapid return to the racing circuit

But just six weeks after the accident, Lauda returned to the Grand Prix circuit in Monza and sensationally finished fourth. He had quickly and completely processed the fateful day of the accident, on which, as is well known, the Vienna Reichsbrücke also collapsed. "After six months, I was driving like I used to, or even better, and you can only do that if you've solved a problem one hundred percent," he once explained.

Niki Lauda survived a horrific accident. © APA / ERWIN SCHERIAU

“The quick return was part of my strategy, not to sit at home for long and brood about why and how it all happened to me,” Lauda said. A year after the accident, the Viennese driver won his second World Championship title. With the famous words, “I don’t want to drive around in circles like an idiot anymore,” he retired in 1979, before making his comeback three years later and winning his third title in 1984.

“Man with the red cap” became a “global brand”

Following his racing career, the Viennese native embarked on an equally successful and eventful career as an entrepreneur in the aviation industry. The crash of a Lauda Air plane in Thailand in 1991 was arguably his darkest hour. Lauda remained involved in Formula 1 as a Ferrari consultant, Jaguar team principal, and later as chairman of the supervisory board of the Mercedes team. Together with his compatriot Toto Wolff, he transformed the racing team into the dominant force in the Grand Prix circuit at that time.

The red cap was Lauda's trademark. © APA/epa / GEORG HOCHMUTH

What also, and above all, distinguished Lauda was his red cap. This, along with his sporting achievements and unique life story, made the Austrian a global brand. The year of his serious accident and his rivalry with British racing driver James Hunt were also impressively depicted in the film "Rush," released in 2013, which became a box office hit.

Following a lung transplant in the summer of 2018, Lauda increasingly struggled with health problems. He died on May 20, 2019, at the age of 70, surrounded by his family. The man who miraculously survived the fiery crash at the Nürburgring and went on to win two world championship titles left behind a truly unique legacy.