71
1971 — 1973
March / BRM
Pay-driver seasons funded by bank loans.
Niki LaudaF1 career history
Bought his way in with a bank loan, won three titles, survived the Nürburgring, and later rebuilt Mercedes as a chairman.
- Titles
- 3
- Wins
- 25
- Poles
- 24
- Podiums
- 54
- Starts
- 171
- Teams
- 4
Career Chronology
Filter by season
4 of 4 team stints shown · 1971 — 1985
3 championship seasons in this range:1975 · 1977 · 1984
Full career totals
1971 — 1985 · 13 seasons- Races
- 173
- Wins
- 25
- Podiums
- 54
- Poles
- 24
- Championships
- 3
Win rate 14.5%Podium rate 31.2%Points 420.5Best season 1984 (5 wins, 9 podiums)Titles 1975, 1977, 1984
Exports the 1971 — 1985 selection only
74
1974 — 1977
Ferrari
World champion in 1975 and 1977; Nürburgring crash in 1976.
- 1975 title
- 1977 title
78
1978 — 1979
Brabham
The BT46B fan car win at Anderstorp.
82
1982 — 1985
McLaren
Comeback title in 1984 by half a point.
- 1984 title
The Long Version
He funded early drives at March and BRM with personal loans against a life insurance policy.
Ferrari signed him for 1974; he won the 1975 title in the 312T.
His fiery crash at the Nürburgring in 1976 left him with lasting injuries; he returned six weeks later.
He won a third title with McLaren in 1984 by half a point from Prost, then became a Mercedes non-executive chairman, signing Hamilton in 2012.
Where Those Teams Went
Scuderia Ferrari1 identities
The only team to have entered every season since 1950, and the only identity in the sport never to have been sold, renamed or rebadged.
Trace the Ferrari rebrands from 1950 →Brabham Racing Organisation1 identities
The only team whose founder won the championship driving his own car — later Bernie Ecclestone's launchpad into running the sport.
Trace the Brabham rebrands from 1962 →British Racing Motors1 identities
A national project funded by British industry, famous for the shrieking H16 engine and one glorious 1962 championship.
Trace the BRM rebrands from 1951 →