Lauda's sons presented awards to Marko, Berger and Wolff.

      Last Wednesday in Vienna the traditional "Athlete of the Year" ceremony took place, at which Helmut Marko, Gerhard Berger and Toto Wolff were honored with special awards for their achievements in motorsport.

      Symbolically, this category, added to the annual ceremony a few years ago, is called Niki — of course in honor of Niki Lauda, the legendary Austrian driver and three-time world champion. The awards were presented by Lauda’s sons, Lukas and Mathias. And for the occasion the elder son even put on a tuxedo that once belonged to his father.

      "I feel quite comfortable in this tuxedo — it feels as if it were tailored for me," Speedweek quotes Mathias as saying. "I came to Vienna at the last minute, but my friend Gernot said he had a suitable suit. Father wore this tuxedo at the premiere of the film Rush in New York (in 2013)."

      Helmut Marko, who shared a long friendship with Niki Lauda, was deeply moved upon receiving the prestigious award: "This wonderful award means a great deal to me. I met Niki in 1968, and at first we were rivals on the racetrack. But he was someone you could work with; he had a constructive approach to everything.

      He achieved incredible success not only in motorsport. For me he always remained a role model; I tried to emulate him, since throughout my career I was connected with Niki. And to receive such an award is a huge honor for me. It is made even more special by the fact that it bears Niki Lauda’s name."