1-193-148 - National Motor Museum/Heritage Images

Niki Lauda, c1971. His first stint in Formula One lasted from 1971 to 1979, and included two World Championships for Ferrari. In 1976 he was badly burned in a near fatal crash at the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. Just six weeks later, at Fuji Japan, he withdrew from the final Grand Prix of the season, despite being in the lead, due to the extreme wet weather conditions. He returned to racing in 1982 until 1985, winning a World Championship for McLaren in 1984, and becoming a mentor to Alain Prost.