Ferrari remembers Niki Lauda 50 years after his first F1 title: Piero Ferrari’s portrait of a lifelong friend. Ferrari pays tribute to Niki Lauda at Monza, 50 years after his first Formula 1 championship.

Ferrari pays tribute to Niki Lauda at Monza, 50 years after his first Formula 1 championship with the Scuderia

A special Monza for Ferrari

For Piero Ferrari, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza is always a special occasion. But in 2025, it takes on an even deeper meaning. The Prancing Horse, which will take to the track with a celebratory livery and special race suits for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, is marking 50 years since Niki Lauda’s first Formula 1 world title with Ferrari. Lauda remains an unforgettable champion and an iconic figure of the paddock, who later became a central figure in the sport as Mercedes F1’s non-executive chairman, continuing to influence Formula 1 until his passing in the spring of 2019.

Piero Ferrari remembers Niki Lauda

It is therefore the perfect opportunity to remember a driver who was more than just an employee—he was above all a true friend. Piero Ferrari recalled: “My father chose him in 1974. It was a combination of instinct and trust. Clay Regazzoni had told my father that Niki had extraordinary talent and exceptional sensitivity. Then came the Monaco Grand Prix, where Niki was outstanding at the wheel of a car that could not compete with the top teams. My father watched that race from Fiorano and immediately decided that Niki was worth the gamble. Looking back now, it is incredible how such a simple decision, based on instinct and a race seen on television, went on to change Ferrari’s history.”

Piero Ferrari’s memory then turned to September 7, 1975, when at Monza the Austrian driver clinched his very first Formula 1 world championship at the wheel of the Ferrari 312 T. This very livery will be honored on track this year with the two SF-25 cars. He said: “I will never forget that atmosphere. Clay Regazzoni won the race and, with Niki finishing third, we had the mathematical certainty of the title. After the podium, Niki and I embraced, and I remember wishing that moment would never end. It was not only a victory for Ferrari, it was the beginning of a new era. And for me, it held a deeply personal value, like celebrating with a lifelong friend.”

He added: “Lauda was brilliant, but also fun-loving, carefree, and full of life. In the evenings, we often went out to dinner in Modena, laughing, joking, even making bets on Grand Prix results… and whoever lost paid for everyone! Behind his precision and discipline, there was a young man who loved life and friendship. This is the Niki I will always carry with me.”