F1 German Grand Prix: 5 most memorable moments

#3 Niki Lauda's life-threatening crash at Nurburgring

Austria's Niki Lauda suffered serious burns in this crash when his Ferrari caught fire.

The 1975 world champion had a horrific crash in which he suffered serious burns in the 1976 German Grand Prix at Nurburgring.

The Austrian held the lap record at the Nurburgring the previous year and was favored to win the GP. Appalling weather conditions combined with the treacherous conditions of the track forced Lauda to set a meeting before the race to urge his fellow drivers to boycott the event.

Failing to convince the drivers, the race went on and Lauda was pushing to make up time after his pit stop. However, just before the Bergwerk right-hand curve, the Austrian's Ferrari hit the fencing and bounced back on the track, before being wrapped in flames. Niki Lauda suffered extensive burns and was flown to the hospital in a helicopter.

Lauda returned to racing only after three weeks and finished fourth at Monza with his wounds bandaged. He went on to finish second in the championship that year.