Former F1 world champion Niki Lauda was a pioneer in the sport. He revolutionized the sport with his grit and never gave up attitude. Sadly, it has been three years since we lost the Austrian maestro and many still miss his personality in the paddock. Probably no one misses him more than his friend and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
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Since his departure, Wolff has talked about a void in his life. Recently, Wolff and his family were in Monaco to watch the vintage F1 cars take to the track.
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Toto’s wife Susie took to Instagram to post a family picture with the iconic Ferrari driven by Lauda. “Always with us,” Susie wrote in the caption.
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Wolff openly spoke about Lauda’s passing at the end of the 2020 season, where he revealed that he really missed Niki.
Mercedes team boss reveals the impact of Lauda’s passing on him
The Austrian mentioned he had not fully realized the passing of Niki until the pandemic hit. He revealed he missed having dinners and conversations with the former Mercedes advisor on a daily basis.
“I only really realized at the end of the year that my good friend was gone. My traveling buddy was gone and my confidant was gone. The structure we had was such a big part of my life—flying to races together, having our discussions, having dinner every single day,” said Toto.
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MONZA, ITALY: Mercedes GP non-executive chairman Niki Lauda talks with Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff in the pit lane during qualifying for the Formula One Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
“I truly miss him, mostly as a friend but also as a confidant. There have been situations this year where I’ve wished I could have had his opinion,” concluded the Mercedes team principal.
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The impact Lauda has had on Wolff’s life is unmeasurable and he cannot be replaced by anyone. He would have truly loved that 2021 season, which would have reminded him of his epic battles with James Hunt in 1976.
Not only the Mercedes team boss, but everyone in Formula One misses the charismatic spirit of the 3-time world champion. His influence on the world champions is still imprinted in a bold manner and they carry his never say the attitude with them every day.
