Niki Lauda Vs James Hunt: 1976 and Forever

In the world of motorsport, the two men James Hunt an eccentric, bold, party animal, and daredevil British driver versus Niki Lauda a careful and intelligent Austrian master tactician together made up for one of the most heated rivalries. Their rivalry made the 1976 Formula One season one of the most interesting and dramatic seasons in the history of the sport. Both these men raced during a time when F1 could be considered as one of the most violent and deadly sport in the world, a car crash was inevitable in every race and the cars would burst open into flames in the slightest of impacts resulting in eight deaths in the previous five seasons. These two legends of racing have many differences in respect of lifestyle, career stats, and the 1976 season.

Hunt, who drove a McLaren, was a playboy on and off the tracks admitting that he took advantages of being a F1 driver often rumored to have engaged in sexual activities minutes before the race. He had his hard partying ways partake of alcohol, drugs, and often raced hangover from the exploits of the late-night partying created a notorious public image. He raced in over 90 races wining only one Championship in 1976, with a total of ten grand prix victories. The legendary 1976 season started with Hunt winning the British grand prix after a first lap collision with Lauda’s car in the first corner, this victory was however outlawed two months later and awarded to Lauda. During the whole 1976, Hunt played second fiddle to Lauda until the tragic accident of Niki Lauda in German grand prix at Nürburgring, which saw an up rise in Hunt’s driving performance that paved his way towards a hard-fought victory in the season after a very serious comeback by Niki Lauda. Hunt who started his career in 1973 retired in 1979 earned the nickname “Hunt the Shunt” for his aggressive, fast, and accident prone driving. He died in year 1993 due to heart attack while working as a broadcaster for BBC.

Niki Lauda who was a stickler for discipline and rules, drove a Ferrari during the 1976 season. He is considered to be a master tactician of the sport and was well known for his analysis of the car. It was early in his career when he not only funded but also took over the development of the car which became the fastest for the time and cemented his position in the sport. Lauda had a contrasting personality from Hunt when it came to the lifestyle they both lead but both these men where viciously fast and unchallenged on the race track. Lauda, born in Vienna was a three time world champion in 1975, 1977, and 1984 while winning a total of twenty-five grand prix races. The 1976 season turned out to be the most traumatic in his career, Lauda was the reigning champion and it was an easy road to victory but destiny had other plans. It was during the German grand prix in Nürburgring on race day August 1, 1976 came the horrific crash. Luada had openly protested for the race to cancel prior to the start with high concerns for safety of the track but was unable to gather enough votes and eventually lost by one vote which meant he had to race. The wet tracks and suspension failure resulted in the crash which saw Luada trapped inside the cockpit, which was up in flames resulting in severe burns in the head and eyelids; during the crash he inhaled toxic gases for a near death experience. The accident left the whole sport fraternity in shock much so that Ferrari pulled out the next race giving the chance for Hunt to catch up and take on the leader board. Yet Lauda, after six-weeks in hospital miraculously came back to race in the Italian grand prix and on Hunt’s tail finishing up fourth and laying groundwork to what inspired to be the most amazing comeback in the history of all sport and the most legendary season of F1 history. It was in the last race of season during Japanese grand prix when Lauda pulled out after two laps, giving hopes for Hunt to winning his maiden championship if he finishes above the fifth place. In the hard pouring condition Hunt raced for his life finishing third on the race and winning the championship. Lauda retired first in 1979 but made a comeback in 1982 to win the championship in 1984 after which he finally hung up his boots and took up a career as an aircraft enthusiast and entrepreneur.

Lauda and Hunt during the year 1976 shared a very stress full relationship but both were great admirers of each other Lauda admired Hunt's speed while Hunt envied Lauda's capacity for tactics and analysis. Both men shared a very amicable relationship as they even shared an apartment in London early in their careers before becoming rivals in Formula One they raced along in Formula Three. Lauda went on record stating that Hunt was the only man he envied but mutual admiration and respect was always there. "We were big rivals, especially at the end of the season, but I respected him because you could drive next to him—2 centimeters, wheel-by-wheel, for 300 kilometers or more—and nothing would happen. He was a real top driver at the time.", Lauda said.

Two racers different in many ways yet alike in their achievements made up for the first poster boys of Formula One and set the bar so high that it was not challenged by any other racer for a decade until Ayrton Senna.