Helmut Marko and Toto Wolff, prominent figures within the Formula 1 teams Red Bull and Mercedes respectively, are usually rivals. However, on Wednesday, they jointly received an award. Along with former F1 driver Gerhard Berger, the men were awarded the special Niki Lauda prize for their impressive careers in motorsport during the Sporthilfe Gala in their home country of Austria.
The award ceremony took place during the Sporthilfe Gala in Vienna, Austria, the home country of the three recipients of the special award. The Niki awards, named after three-time F1 world champion Niki Lauda, are given not only to the sportsman and sportswoman of the year but also to sports legends who have made an impression with their entire career. The award has previously been given to former bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, but this year the Austrian trio from Formula 1 – Helmut Marko, Toto Wolff, and Gerhard Berger – were the recipients.
Lauda
“These are three racing legends who have not only shaped Formula 1 but continue to do so,” says Gernot Uhlir, director of Sporthilfe, about the reason for the special award for the trio. For Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, it was a great honor to follow in the footsteps of Niki Lauda – the namesake of the prize. “The fact that the prize bears Niki’s name makes it very special to me. Niki was much more than just a three-time world champion. He was a fighter, a role model, and a friend to many of us. His legacy lives on in our sport, and it is an honor to receive this award.”
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff echoes the words of his compatriot. “Niki Lauda was not only one of the most important athletes of his time, but also a straightforward and steadfast personality,” says the Austrian. “Above all, he was my friend, with whom I had a close and special friendship in which we experienced many ups and downs.”
