Lauda ends airline role

03/01/2013

Niki Lauda has stood down as a board member of Air Berlin in order that he can fully concentrate on his new role as non-executive chairman of the Mercedes F1 team.

The Austrian joined the board of Air Berlin after the German company bought out his Niki airline in 2011, the Vienna-based company, which specialised in "low-cost" business and leisure travel, having been established in 2003 following the three-time F1 champ's ousting from Lauda Air.

In a statement, Air Berlin thanked Lauda for his "committed, stimulating work for the benefit of the company", the Austrian, who previously ran the Jaguar F1 team, thought to be assuming a role which will see him act as link between the Brackley-based outfit and its paymaster in Stuttgart.