Quick Facts
| Birth Date | 1979 |
| Full Name | Lukas Lauda |
| Profession | Racing Manager |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Birth City | Salzburg |
| Birth Country | Austria |
| Father Name | Niki Lauda |
| Father Profession | Professional F1 Racer |
| Mother Name | Marlene Knaus |
| Mother Profession | Model |
| Siblings | Mathias Lauda, Max Lauda, Mia Lauda, Christoph Lauda |
Lukas Lauda, who is originally from Austria, is a well-known car racing manager. He rose to prominence as the son of the late Niki Lauda, one of Formula One’s most respected racers.
His father, Niki, was the only racer in F1 history to win titles for both McLaren and Ferrari. He also became a ‘Three-Time World Champion’ of the Formula One Championship.
How Much Money Did Lukas Lauda’s Father Niki Lauda Have?
Nikki, the late three-time world champion, had a net worth of around $200 million. He made that enormous sum of money through his racing career.
In terms of business, he founded Lauda Air in the late 1970s and sold it in 1999. He then merged his other airline with Air Berlin in 2011. Five years later, he purchased Amira Air and renamed it Laudamotion GmbH. All of this added significantly to his net worth.
Lukas Lauda Is The First Son Of Niki Lauda
Lukas Lauda was born in Salzburg in 1979. He is the first child of Niki Lauda and Marlene Knaus, a stunning 1960s model. Mathias Lauda, his younger brother, was born two years later, in 1981.
In addition, he has two half-siblings, Max Lauda and Mia Lauda. Birgit Wetzinger, a flight attendant at Niki’s company, gave birth to them.
Does Lukas Lauda Have A Wife?
Lukas is currently single and has not been spotted with anyone. For the time being, it appears that he is not interested in starting a relationship. There is also no information about his previous relationships or affairs.
His brother Mathias Lauda, on the other hand, married his long-term girlfriend Claire Lauda in 2013. They had two children, Lenny and Ellison, in 2014 and 2016, respectively.
Lukas’s Younger Brother Is A Racer
Mathias Lauda, Lukas’s younger brother, is a racing driver who competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship. He is a factory-backed driver who works for Aston Martin Racing.
In 2002, he made his Formula Nissa 2000 debut. Mathias has competed in numerous popular championships since then, including the GP2 series, the A1 Grand Prix, the GT1 World Championship, and many others.
An interesting fact is that Lukas is now Mathias Lauda’s manager.
His Great Grand-Father Was Also An Influential Figure
Hans Lauda, Lukas’s great-grandfather, served in the artillery division during World War I. He was also the general manager of Veitscher, where he built his papermaking empire.
Hans co-founded the Federation of Austrian Industries after WWII, which is an independent representation of Austrian industries. Even though it was founded nearly a century ago, it is still in operation today.
Unfortunately, Hans Lauda died before Lukas was born. He died in Vienna, Austria, on January 21, 1974.
How Was The Relationship Between Lukas’s Parents?
Niki Lauda and Marlene Knaus, Lukas Lauda’s parents, married in 1976. She was a huge fan of the Austrian racer even before she married, and she reportedly fainted when she saw Niki’s accident at the German Grand Prix.
Unfortunately, the couple divorced after fifteen years of marriage. They maintained close relationships with each other until Niki’s death.
His Father Had A Son From Extramarital Affair
Nikki had an extramarital affair at the time, which resulted in an additional son, Christoph Lauda, in addition to his four official children. He was born in 1982 as the son of Nikki, but his mother’s identity remains unknown.
At the time, the scandal received a lot of media attention. Despite these events, his then-wife, Marlene, remained supportive and stood by him.
Lukas’s Father Had Two Wives
Niki Lauda’s second wife was Birgit Wetzinger. Before they started dating in 2004, she worked as a flight attendant. Birgit didn’t hesitate to donate one of her kidneys when Niki suffered from kidney failure in 2005, demonstrating her love despite the thirty-year age difference.
The couple married in 2008 and has since given birth to twin sons and a daughter. Max and Mia, twins, were born in September 2009.
Niki’s F1 Battle Was Adapted Into A Movie
What distinguished Niki from others was the film Rush, which was based on his 1976 F1 battle with James Hunt. The content was obviously dramatized in order to entertain the audience.
The Rush film was released in 2013 and earned just under $100 million. It was even nominated for a BAFTA Film Award.
Lucas’s Father Died Because Of A Kidney Problem
Niki died on May 20, 2019, while sleeping at the University Hospital of Zurich. He was on his deathbed there while receiving treatment for kidney problems. He was buried in his Ferrari racing suit, with full state honors.
Many famous F1 figures attended his funeral at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, including Jean Alesi, Jackie Stewart, Gerhard Berger, and others. Even Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen attended his funeral, demonstrating how highly he was regarded.
In the press conference preceding the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix, there was a moment of silence in memory of Niki. In memory of Niki, some teams even painted their vehicles halo red.
According to The Sun, the city has offered Niki a ‘Grave of Honour’ in Vienna Central Cemetery, where notable figures such as Beethoven are buried. The family has yet to decide what to do, but for the time being, he rests peacefully in the Heiligenstadt Cemetery.
More About Lukas’s Late Father
Andreas Nikolaus Lauda, also known as Niki Lauda, was born on February 22, 1949 in Vienna, Austria. He came from a wealthy family that made newspapers at the time. His family disapproved of the racing career he had chosen, but he continued on his path.
He was a very successful racing driver after becoming a driver, having won multiple titles. Apart from racing, he was also involved in the aviation industry, founding Lauda Air in April 1979.
Unfortunately, on April 6, 2013, the airline ceased operations and was replaced by Austrian myHoliday.
Outstanding Achievements of His Father
Niki began racing in a Mini before progressing to Formula Volkswagen, then to private Chevron and Porsche. Since then, he has amassed numerous accomplishments that make him one of the world’s greatest racers.
His first Grand Prix victory came in 1974. The following year, he won four Ferrari 312T races, securing his first World Championship. Then, in 1977, he easily won his second World Championship.
Similarly, he won his third World Championship by half a point in 1984, which was a very close call. Niki maintained his form despite winning three championships and was consistently near the top of the league table.
