The most comprehensive and detailed biography of Formula One legend Nick Lauda ever published, as told by Maurice Hamilton, who knew him for more than forty years. From the famous rivalry with James Hunt in the 1970s, as depicted in the filmRush, to working with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, Lauda's career helped define modern F1.

In 1975, Lauda becameworld championfor the first time. Driving forFerrari, he looked to retain his title in 1976 and was dominating the campaign ahead ofJames Huntin hisMcLaren. Then, on 1 August, he was involved in a horrendous crash at theNurburgringand was badly burned and in hospital he was given the last rites, so severe were his injuries. Remarkably, six weeks later, he was back racing again, determined to show he could still compete. As they came to the final race of the season in Japan, Lauda held a narrow lead in the championship, but in appalling weather conditions, Lauda withdrew from the race, while Hunt went on to secure the points he needed to become world champion. It was high-speed drama at its best.

Lauda came back to win the title again in 1977 and then, having temporarily retired, he won it for a third time in 1984, driving for McLaren. When he finally finished as an F1 driver, he started his own airline, before he returned to the sport in various management roles, latterly as chairman ofMercedes, where he helped in the negotiations to bringLewis Hamiltonto the team. 

Maurice Hamilton, who first met Lauda in 1971, draws together the remarkable story of one of the greatest stars in Formula One history. Based on interviews with friends and family, rival drivers and those he worked with later in his career,Niki Laudais a superb and definitive tribute to a remarkable character, who died in May 2019 at the age of seventy.