Mercedes adds red halo as tribute to Lauda

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The Mercedes AMG F1 team has fitted a red halo safety device to both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas' W10 cars as an added tribute to the team's deceased chairman Niki Lauda.

The front nose of both Mercedes' cars is adorned with a 'Danke Niki' message along with Lauda's signature, while the rear bodywork of the Silver Arrows also features a red star.

The light shines on one special car in Maranello

The team has now added the red halo to its homage to the F1 legend.

Most teams have chosen to pay their respects to the three-time world champion who passed away on Monday evening.

Toro Rosso's chargers also feature a 'Danke Niki' on its cars while McLaren - a team to which Lauda delivered a world title in 1984 - is also displaying a tribute.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel is wearing a bright red helmet dedicated to the great Austrian and the Scuderia has inscribed the name of its former driver on its cars.

Formula 1 is expected to celebrate Lauda's memory on Sunday before the start of the Monaco Grand Prix.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.