The motorsport family is waking up to the news this morning that one of its greatest-ever drivers, Niki Lauda, has died at the age of 70.
Lauda was a man whose courage in the face of adverse circumstances transcended the sport; the manner in which he battled back from his near-fatal incident in Germany in 1976, which left his body and face covered in third-degree burns, is testament to his lasting legacy.
Tributes have came pouring in for the Austrian. Manufacturer Honda said simply and poignantly: 'A life truly lived, RIP Niki Lauda 1949-2019.'
Ferrari tweeted to say that Lauda, who won two of his world titles in red, 'would remain forever in our hearts and the hearts of the fans.'
More tributes can be found below and will be added to across the course of the day.
FERRARI
Oggi è un giorno triste per la F1. La grande famiglia della Ferrari apprende con profonda tristezza la notizia della morte dell’amico Niki Lauda, tre volte campione del mondo, due con la Scuderia (1975-1977). Resterai per sempre nei cuori nostri e in quelli dei tifosi. #CiaoNikipic.twitter.com/srQUUeDqLw
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 21, 2019
F1
Rest in peace Niki Lauda.
Forever carried in our hearts, forever immortalised in our history. The motorsport community today mourns the devastating loss of a true legend.
All at McLaren are deeply saddened to learn that our friend, colleague and 1984 Formula 1 World Champion, Niki Lauda, has passed away. Niki will forever be in our hearts and enshrined in our history. #RIPNikipic.twitter.com/Ndd9ZEfm6B
A real loss to Sport and a big hole in our hearts. Courageous, chatty, and extremely funny. I am going to miss you being around the @F1 paddock but the legend of Niki Lauda will live on, because you were a very very special man. Thanks for all the memories #3timesWC@SkySportsF1pic.twitter.com/aUIRML0lNv
Niki Lauda was one of a kind. To live through so much, to achieve so much and to do it with a twinkle in the eye, glinting under that red cap. He was different class - Thoughts with his family, friends and colleagues. Remember him with a smile.
Ciao Niki, leggenda della Formula Uno. Abbiamo corso tutti con te, fino all'ultima curva 🙏🏽 Our condolences for the three-time world champion with Ferrari and MCLaren. Honor to you, #Lauda, from AC Milan and all the Rossoneri in the world. pic.twitter.com/A41yCsphIi
RIP the Great #NikiLauda. Here’s our last meeting in #MonteCarlo in ‘18 We first met while making the movie Rush. The F1 world knows of his grit & intensely competitive spirit, but that matched w/his keen intelligence & wisdom made him a distinctively remarkable man. a force. pic.twitter.com/SMizNt9Hge