Legendary Formula One driver Niki Lauda has died at the age of 70, his family said in a statement released to Austrian media early Tuesday.

“With deep sadness, we announce that our beloved Niki has peacefully passed away on Monday,” the statement read. Lauda’s death comes eight months after he underwent a lung transplant.

Lauda won the Formula One Drivers’ World Championship three times, in 1975 and 1977 for Ferrari and in 1984 with McLaren.

Lauda had been Non-Executive Chairman at Mercedes F1 since 2012 and he was instrumental in bringing in Lewis Hamilton to spark a run of success that has brought five consecutive World Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.

During his driving career, Lauda suffered horrific injuries on August 1, 1976 when, having already won five races that season, his vehicle burst into flames on the Nuerburgring in Germany.

He suffered severe burns on his face and hands, and inhaled toxic fumes which damaged his lungs.

Despite being given the last rites in hospital, he made an almost miraculous recovery to race again just six weeks later still bandaged and in intense pain.