Three-time Formula One world champion Niki Lauda has died aged 70.
Per the Austria Press Agency (h/t Giles Richards of The Guardian), a statement released by Lauda's family read: "With deep sadness, we announce that our beloved Niki has peacefully passed away with his family on Monday."
Lauda, who had a lung transplant last August, won two world championships with Ferrari in 1975 and 1977 before claiming a third with McLaren in 1984 after returning to the sport following his first retirement.
The Austrian won 25 races in 171 starts, and he remained actively involved in F1 until the end of his life, acting as non-executive chairman of Mercedes and playing a key role in signing Lewis Hamilton to the team in 2012.
His most remarkable achievement in the sport, though, was recovering from a horrific crash at the 1976 German Grand Prix.
On August 1 of that year, on the second lap of the race, Lauda's Ferrari went off the track, hit an embankment and burst into flames.
Lauda was trapped in the wreckage, and before he was dragged out, he suffered third-degree burns to his head and face and also inhaled hot toxic gases, damaging his lungs and blood.
Lauda lost most of his right ear in recovery, but he missed only two races, returning just 40 days after the crash to finish fourth at the Italian Grand Prix.
The tributes paid to Lauda after the announcement of his death showed how admired and respected he was in the sport:
He retired for good from driving at the end of the 1985 season and returned to running his airline, Lauda Air, as he had after his first retirement in 1979. He subsequently set up another airline, Niki, in 2003.
Lauda's legacy was ensured during his time as a driver, but he will also be remembered for his roles after he stopped competing, while sporting the ever-present cap he used to hide his injuries following his crash.
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