Seven years ago, Niki Lauda passed away.

      Seven years ago, on May 20, 2019, the family of Niki Lauda announced that he had left this world after a prolonged illness. We have gathered in this material several memories of what he was like...

      Bernie Ecclestone: "Niki was an amazing person. He returned to racing after that accident, even though he shouldn't have. But he went to the start and won the title. Niki was special. He knew what to say and when to say it. He was a great driver. Niki was one of those who always knew when to push the car to its limits and get more out of it. He was respected, and people listened to him. Niki loved Formula 1. Even while in the hospital, he wanted to start flying again and come to some races."

      Luca di Montezemolo: "We were friends for fifty years, sharing the best moments of our lives. We won many races, two championship titles, and we were very close to a third. Niki Lauda was a unique personality and a very smart driver; he understood when to attack and when to conserve the car. Good relationships with engineers and mechanics were important to him, which greatly helped in getting more from the car. Who else would have had the courage to get back behind the wheel in Monza just weeks after the fire at Nürburgring? When he took off his helmet, the wounds started bleeding again. But he didn't think about that at all. His departure from Ferrari never hindered our friendship, even when we later stood on opposite sides."

      Sebastian Vettel: "I was lucky to know Niki. When I was racing for Red Bull Racing, Niki was a regular at our team and often talked with Helmut Marko. Niki shared insights about the cars, how racing impacted his life, and what Enzo Ferrari was really like. You can't learn that from books; it's information from the primary source. Niki was always himself. Many people try to fit a certain image in front of the cameras, but Lauda was not like that. He was always sincere, true to his word, and always on the side of truth. Niki was a true racer, in love with our sport. I held him in great respect."

      Toto Wolff: "What did I learn from Niki? Never give up. Don't look for excuses, but strive for your goals! Niki never complained. Even when he was in pain and struggling. I was always impressed by his ability to handle the challenges life threw at him. Our friendship grew stronger over the years; we were different and learned from each other. I miss my friend, my conversational partner, my opponent. He was always there when I had a tough time. Niki inspired me every day—with his invulnerability, flexibility, and ability to rise again. Despite all our differences, we had a lot in common. I'm one of those who never looks back. I'm not interested in yesterday's results. And he felt the same way. We lived for today and tomorrow."

      Lewis Hamilton: "We all miss Niki very much. I think of him every day. It's hard for me to talk about him in the past tense. He was a very close person to me. We shared many incredible moments. I remember our first conversations. It was in 2012. One day, I had just returned home when Niki called and started convincing me to join Mercedes. I remember how excited I was that the world champion, the legendary Niki Lauda, was calling me at home. After that, we discussed it several times, but the negotiations were still in the early stages, and then the then-team principal of Mercedes, Ross Brawn, came to see me. I couldn't believe he was sitting in my mom's kitchen. When Lauda came to my hotel room in Singapore and we had our decisive conversation, something clicked in me. I suddenly realized that we saw many things in life and racing the same way. Since then, we had a wonderful relationship. We traveled together, and I visited him in Ibiza. He was positive, artistic, with a great sense of humor. He knew a lot of stories. And what a driver he was! Always striving for perfection. In gratitude for a good performance, Niki would take off his famous cap. And you understood that you were really good. He wasn't one to give compliments. If Lauda took off his cap, it meant you did well. Even after a victory, he would ask, 'Lewis, what do you need to become even better?' He was always looking for ways to achieve more. Of all the lessons I learned from him, this was the most important—it's not enough for a driver to just work hard; he must lead his team, ask the right questions, and always push himself and his people to give their all. It's like in training. You do ten push-ups, and on the ninth, you realize you can't do anymore. So, you have to find the strength in yourself and your body to do 12 or 13. The same goes for working with people. You can always achieve a little more. Niki taught me a lot about relationships with people, and I like to think that I use his lessons every day. I will never forget that it was Niki who brought me to Mercedes, convincing me that great successes were still ahead. I was welcomed with open arms; we all grew together. Niki was the person who gave me my freedom because he felt that only when people can be themselves can they achieve more. It is a great honor for me to have spent so much of my life with Niki Lauda. I cherish these memories. I am very grateful to Niki for everything he did for me. He will always live in my heart. And I know—he is always with us when we hit the track."