Niki Lauda’s widow, Birgit, is embroiled in a legal dispute over the late Formula One icon’s £88 million estate, with Lauda’s lawyer dismissing her assertions as ‘absurd.’

The Austrian racing legend, who clinched the world championship title three times, passed away in 2019 at the age of 70. Since then, his estate has been under the management of a private foundation.

Lauda and Birgit Wetzinger, who was 24 years his junior, tied the knot in 2008. Before their marriage, she worked as a flight attendant for his airline.

In a testament to their bond, Birgit donated a kidney to Lauda in 2005. The couple welcomed twins, Max and Mia, just a year after their marriage, further cementing their family legacy.

Birgit, who donated a kidney to Lauda in 2005, had twins Max and Mia with the former Ferrari and McLaren driver a year into their marriage.

Formula One legend Niki Lauda’s lawyer has lashed out at his widow Birgit, left, amid continued legal action over his estate

Lauda died at the age of 70 in 2019 and his estate has been the subject of legal action since

Birgit began a legal case against the foundation following his death, challenging the arrangements and benefits owed to her.

Lauda’s lawyer and foundation board member Haig Asenbauer has now accused her of making ‘absurd claims’ and ‘damaging his honour’ as legal proceedings continue.

‘My main motivation is to correct things that actually damage Niki’s honour,’ Asenbauer told Austrian newspaper Kurier.

‘Regrettably, we as foundation board members must acknowledge that, based on the lawsuits filed by Birgit Sieberer Lauda against the Lauda Private Foundation and its subsidiary, the most absurd claims about Niki Lauda are circulating, claims she in no way deserves. 

‘Since Niki himself can no longer comment on this, it is our duty to clarify a few things.

Lauda had reportedly stipulated that his two wives Marlene Knaus, who he divorced in 1991, and Birgit were both beneficiaries. His sons Lukas and Mathias from his first marriage and twins Mia and Max from his second would also benefit.

Birgit’s benefits are said to have included two luxury homes, cars, holidays and a five-figure sum per month.

Asenbauer has pushed back against claims that Lauda had ‘forgotten’ Mia and Max, insisting around £13m – over half of benefits distributed – have gone to Birgit and her two children.

‘Niki Lauda stipulated that Mia and Max should receive more from the foundation’s assets than any other family member,’ Asenbauer added.

Lauda married his second with Birgit in 2008, with the couple welcoming twins a year later

Lauda, right, won three Formula One world championship titles during his career 

‘Furthermore, we hear that Niki Lauda’s provisions are “unfair and not generous”. In fact, in the six years since Niki’s death, PSL has already distributed over 30 million euros in cash and in-kind benefits to his family members.

‘There are probably very few foundations in Austria that pay out such large sums.’

Asenbauer claimed that if Birgit is successful with her legal action it would be ‘severely damaging’ to her own children by taking more money away from the foundation.

The lawyer also denied Birgit had been successful in two court cases for £7.4m and £19m against the foundation, stating her claims in one were ‘dismissed in its entirety’ with a verdict in the other expected ‘in the coming weeks’. 

According to Kurier, Birgit had last year achieved a partial victory in court against the Lauda Foundation.

This saw her recognised as a widow entitled to a compulsory share of the inheritance, roughly 16 per cent of the assets, under Austrian law.

The challenge came due to Lauda having not changed his will since 2007, with neither Birgit or their two children being included. 

The foundation had reportedly claimed Birgit had been unworthy of inheritance, alleging she had concealed works of art from the estate.

Birgit claimed that many of the items were purchased by her rather than Niki. 

A regional court in Vienna ruled in her favour, with the decision confirmed despite an appeal from Lauda’s sons from his first marriage Lukas and Mathias.