“Niki was my constant companion”

In 1972 Helmut Marko was driving for BRM and the young Niki Lauda (23) made his Grand Prix debut for March (picture above). When Lauda passed away on 20 May 2019, Helmut Marko remembered: “Throughout my whole racing career Niki was my constant companion. Both on the driving side and in management.”

Marko continues: “When he was about to sign a contract with Ferrari, end of 1973, he asked me to come with him to Maranello to meet Enzo Ferrari, and help him in the negotiations. I went with him, and since then we became best friends.”

“I knew he was not in a good condition, but still when I heard the news (of his passing), it was a big blow. There have been so many experiences, so many shared moments, and so many funny moments. And then this …”

“There is no one in the whole Formula 1 scene who can even get close to him in terms of personality, humour and straightforwardness.”

Helmut Marko concludes: “We had breakfast together at every Grand Prix, we looked at things outside the box, beyond the small-minded. The most important thing for us was racing and the attractiveness of the sport. He was a great friend, a life companion, a competitor, a unique person, I will miss him.”