Hamilton mourns ‘buddy’ Lauda

Lewis Hamilton has paid an emotional tribute to his “buddy” Niki Lauda, who has been hailed as the bravest driver in Formula One history.

Nine months after a lung transplant and following complications from influenza he contracted while on holiday in Ibiza in January, Lauda died with his family at his bedside in Vienna on Monday. He was 70.

The grand prix roadshow will mourn the loss of its triple world champion, and the non-executive chairman of Hamilton’s Mercedes team, when it arrives in Monaco today.

Alongside an image of the pair embracing, five-time world champion Hamilton wrote on Instagram: “My buddy, I am struggling to believe you are gone. I will miss our conversations, our laughs, the big hugs after winning races together.

“It’s truly been an honour working alongside you over these past 7 years. I wouldn’t have even been in this team if it wasn’t for you. God rest your soul. Thank you for being a bright light in my life.

“I’ll always be here for your family should they ever need me. Love you man. Your friend always, Lewis #oneofakind #gonetoosoon#youliveoninourhearts #restinpeace.”

Lauda has been a virtual ever-present in the F1 paddock for five decades. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who used to travel to races with his Austrian compatriot, described him as irreplaceable and said the death will leave a void in the sport.

Lauda won two championships for Ferrari and another for McLaren - but he will be remembered for surviving a fireball inferno while racing at the Nurburgring in 1976.

So devastating were Lauda’s injuries that he was read the last rites by a priest on his hospital bed. Yet just 40 days on from the crash, Lauda returned to his Ferrari cockpit to contest the Italian Grand Prix - one of the greatest comebacks in sporting folklore.

“Niki had a degree of bravery that I had never seen the like of before,” Sir Jackie Stewart, 79, said.