The ‘signature’ tribute to Niki Lauda that always sits in the Mercedes garage on race weekends

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Mercedes has been one of the most successful teams in the hybrid era having achieved seven Drivers’ titles and eight Constructors’ Championships.

There were several architects of this success including F1 titans Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher, whose experience in the early years of the Mercedes project helped the team transition into regular race winners.

One of the other key figures to their success was three-time World Champion Niki Lauda, who made invaluable contributions to Mercedes before he died in 2019. This includes being involved in the signing of Lewis Hamilton, who went on to become one of their most successful drivers with five titles between 2014 and 2020.

The Austrian’s legacy lives on throughout the team, with various tributes including a red three-pointed star on their car’s livery that pays homage to Lauda and the respect they had for him while he was at the team.

Mercedes also has another tribute in their garage, which was revealed in the latest book Inside Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast Lane by Matt Whyman.

Mercedes’ touching tribute to Niki Lauda in their team garage

The team has run other tributes to Lauda over the years, including a red halo during the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix which was held in the immediate days after his death.

Mercedes has vowed to keep the red three-pointed star on their cars forever after it first appeared on them in 2019, while the team also has another tribute to Lauda in their garage.

“Inside the Mercedes F1 garage, we’re into what the team call the pre-flight launch procedure,” wrote Whyman.

“Having picked up a headset from the recessed wall rack, one that also displays the signature red baseball cap of the late racing legend and Mercedes F1 mentor Niki Lauda, I take my place just back from the central island.”

Why Michael Schumacher was so popular within Mercedes

Although Schumacher’s period at Mercedes did not yield any race wins to add to his tally of 91 victories in F1, the seven-time World Champion did make a lasting impression.

Mercedes chief Matt Deane recalled how Schumacher was popular within the team because he learnt everyone’s names straight away and could remember their birthdays.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Mercedes AMG F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Schumacher achieved a podium in Valencia and set the fastest time during qualifying for the 2012 Monaco GP but because of a grid penalty picked up at the previous round in Spain, he was unable to start from pole.

Nico Rosberg, who was his last teammate in F1, believes Schumacher relished the chance to race in F1 again and would not have any regrets about his comeback.