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Austrian Lauda, who was treated in hospital in January for about 10
days while suffering from influenza and had a lung transplant last
August, died on Monday night, his family said in a statement.
"His unique achievements as an athlete and entrepreneur are and will
remain unforgettable," the statement said.
"His tireless zest for action, his straightforwardness and his
courage remain a role model and a benchmark for all of us, he was a
loving and caring husband, father and grandfather away from the
public, and he will be missed."
Lauda won two world championships in 1975 and 1977 with Ferrari and
a third in 1984 with McLaren.
He had a near-fatal crash in 1976 when racing at the Nuerburgring
but despite suffering horrific burns, he was soon back in his
Ferrari with a modified helmet and went on to claim his second world
title.
His rivalry with British driver James Hunt, the 1976 champion for
McLaren, was intense and became the subject of the acclaimed 2013
film "Rush".
After two less successful years at rival outfit Brabham and then a
two-year hiatus, Lauda returned to F1 for another four seasons at
McLaren and won the 1984 title by a half-point over team mate Alain
Prost.
While taking his first break after Brabham, Lauda set up a charter
airline and returned to his aviation business full-time after bowing
out of racing.
Through the 1980s and 1990s, he grew 'Lauda Air' into an
international carrier with long-haul flights out of Austria across
the globe before it was merged into Austrian Airlines in 2012.
Lauda also returned to Formula One in management roles, first with
Ferrari in the 1990s and later with Mercedes, where he was appointed
non-executive chairman in 2012.
He is credited for helping bring five-times F1 champion Lewis
Hamilton to the team from McLaren.
"His passing leaves a void in Formula One," Mercedes team principal
Toto Wolff said in a statement on Tuesday.
"We haven't just lost a hero who staged the most remarkable comeback
ever seen, but also a man who brought precious clarity and candor to
modern Formula One. He will be greatly missed as our voice of common
sense.
"Our Mercedes team has also lost a guiding light ... Niki was always
brutally honest - and utterly loyal.
"Niki, you are quite simple irreplaceable, there will never be
another like you."
Lauda's death rocked the F1 community days before the Monaco Grand
Prix, the jewel in the racing calendar, and there were warm tributes
paid by drivers past and present as well as the two teams he won
world titles with.
"Your passing leaves an enormous void inside me," former Ferrari
boss Luca di Montezemolo said in a statement.
"With you I have lived some of the most beautiful moments of my
life, we shared many unforgettable Ferrari victories and we were
always bound together by great affection, even when we found each
other competing on rival teams."
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; additional reporting by Mark Bendeich in
Milan, Editing by Greg Stutchbury/Nick Mulvenney)
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