Niki Lauda's Widow Causes Family Turmoil After Filing Lawsuit For Staggering Amount Of Money

Nearly four years after the passing of Formula 1 icon Niki Lauda, his family finds itself embroiled in a high-stakes legal battle. Birgit Wetzinger, the three-time F1 champion's widow, is reportedly suing the late racing legend's foundation for a staggering €30 million.

Married to Lauda in 2008 after meeting in the early 2000s when she worked as a flight attendant, Wetzinger is the mother of their twins, Max and Mia. According to German publication Bild, the lawsuit targets the foundation established by the Austrian driver in 1997 to secure the financial future of his family, including children from a previous marriage, Lukas and Mathias.

Under the current terms of the foundation, Wetzinger receives an eye-watering monthly payment of €20,000, covering expenses such as the maintenance of two villas in Vienna and Ibiza, three cars, staff salaries, tuition for the twins, and vacation costs.

However, Wetzinger's pursuit of the massive sum has unsurprisingly ignited tensions within the family, prompting a close friend to tell the newspaper:

"Niki would turn in his grave!"

The friend added that the rest of the Lauda family stands united in respecting Niki's original arrangement and defending his legacy.

"Birgit initiated these proceedings. The rest of the family totally agreed with Niki's arrangement, they respect what he wanted and want to defend his legacy to the last."

This seems to be the early stages of the lawsuit so we await to see if Wetzinger is successful in her pursuit.