Lauda's stake in Silver Arrows team returned to Mercedes

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The late Niki Lauda's ten percent stake in the Mercedes AMG F1 team will return to the manufacturer according to the Austrian's son, Mathias Lauda.

Lauda passed away in May of last year following health complications linked to the lung transplant undergone by the F1 legend during the summer of 2018.

Both Lauda and Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff held a ten percent stake in the world championship winning team, with the remaining 80 percent held directly by Mercedes.

Hamilton misses 'getting the texts' from Lauda

However, upon Lauda's untimely passing, his shares have not been transferred to his family's estate but will be returned to Mercedes, according to a pre-established agreement with the team's principal shareholder.

"His shares will return to Stuttgart, to Mercedes itself, during 2020," Mathias Lauda told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"They will not move on to other families. This was already agreed in a written agreement a couple of years ago."

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Nine months on, Lauda's family is still adjusting to their tragic loss.

"When I wake up in the morning I still cannot believe he is this legend of motorsport," said Mathias, speaking in Daytona last weekend where the 38-year-old raced for Aston Martin in the Rolex 24.

"I think about him every day. It’s already eight months since he has gone and that was when I started a new chapter in my life. I try to do the best to make him proud.

"Motorsport was everything for my dad. He started very young without the support of his family and won three Formula 1 titles.

"He was the only driver to stop after a terrible accident and come back to win a title."

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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.