Formula One legend Austrian Niki Lauda attends the "legends race" at the racetrack in Spielberg on June 30, 2018, ahead of the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix. Formula 1 racecar driver and more recently Mercedes-Benz speed guru Niki Lauda passed away yesterday, "peacefully" and "surrounded by his closest family members," according to a statement issued to the Austrian Press Agency by the Lauda family. In 2012, Niki Lauda was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd. In this role, Niki won Formula One World Championships with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport five times in a row between 2014 and 2018. "Formula 1's current batch of Formula drivers were once famed for their soldier-like bravery and addiction to speed and danger, he says.

Source: Forbes May 21, 2019 17:26 UTC