Niki Lauda: Billy Monger reveals advice from F1 legend helped inspire incredible comeback after having both legs amputated

The 20-year-old won his first race last weekend since having both legs amputated following a crash two years ago

Jack Rathborn
Wednesday 22 May 2019 08:12 BST
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Formula One star Niki Lauda dies aged 70

Billy Monger has revealed Niki Lauda helped motivate him to return to motor racing after having both legs amputated following a crash with some inspirational advice.

The 20-year-old’s legs were amputated following a crash during a British F4 race at Donington Park two years ago.

A successful return has seen him clinch his first win since the accident, winning the Grand Prix de Pau in the Euroformula Open series last weekend.

And Monger has revealed he met Lauda, who has died at the age of 70 on Tuesday, during the early stages of his recovery.

The Austrian made his own incredible return to Formula 1 just 40 days after suffering life-changig injuries in a crash at the Nurburgring in Germany in 1976.

“I had the opportunity to meet Niki back at the 2017 British Grand Prix, when I was a guest of Lewis (Hamilton), a few moths after my accident,” Monger said on The One Show on the BBC.

“I was so early on in my recovery that, although I wanted to get back racing, I didn’t know whether it would be possible or not.

“He gave me some really strong words of advice – if it’s something you really want to do, don’t let anyone stand in your way, just work as hard as you can at it. That’s what I did and here we are.”

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