F1 News
Sir Jackie Stewart: "Niki Lauda will be remembered forever"
- Jake Williams-Smith
Sir Jackie Stewart has paid tribute to Niki Lauda after the Austrian passed away in his sleep on Monday.
The 70-year-old had suffered health complications following a lung transplant in late 2018 and had reportedly not fully recovered from the operation.
The three-time Formula 1 champion said his fellow triple F1 champion would not be forgotten and called Lauda "one of the best drivers of all time."
"Niki had a degree of bravery that I had never seen the like of before," the Scot told Press Association Sport.
"After his tremendous accident, he was back just six weeks later. I remember seeing Niki put his helmet on, and his wounds were still absolutely obvious.
"I thought to myself that with all the vibrations you get in a Formula One car at Monza, one of the fastest tracks in the world, that this can't be right.
"To be brave enough to put on the helmet was amazing, but then he went out and qualified fifth. When he returned to the garage, he took his helmet off and I could see he was bleeding. Yet, the very next day, he raced.
"He was such a brave man to get over that accident. He will not go down as just one of the best drivers of all time, but one of the most courageous, too. Niki Lauda will be remembered forever."