Formula 1 legend, Niki Lauda’s remains arrived his home city of Vienna on Wednesday morning as hundreds of fans, friends and family members paid their last respect.
A Requiem Mass is due to be attended by both past and present Formula 1 drivers, mechanics and engineers.
The three-time F1 world champion, was a non-executive chairman of the Mercedes team at the time of his demise and is best known for his extraordinary comeback from a fiery crash in 1976 that left him badly burned and scarred him for life.
Lauda’s remains were taken St Stephen’s cathedral in Vienna, where his widow, Birgit placed his red and white driver’s helmet on his coffin. Lauda will lie in state at the cathedral for several hours before a Mass will be held in his honour.
About 500 guests are expected to attend the Mass, including his former McLaren teammate, Alain Prost and world champion, Lewis Hamilton.
The Austrian president, Alexander Van der Bellen, and former Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz alongside Austrian stars such as Gerhard Berger, Arnold Schwarzenegger are expected to give short speeches after the mass.
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Niki Lauda will be buried in a small private ceremony afterward, with few friends and family members present.
photo credit: Daily Express, The Sun Best, People