ESPN.com · May 22, 2019
Hamilton excused from media duties after Lauda death
Lewis Hamilton was excused from his media duties at the Monaco Grand Prix on Wednesday following the death of Niki Lauda.
Lauda, a triple world champion regarded as one of the sport's all-time greats, was non-executive chairman of the Mercedes team when he died on Monday night at the age of 70.
Motorsport figures pay tribute to Niki Lauda
The Austrian was instrumental in persuading Hamilton to leave McLaren, where he won his first title in 2008, and join Mercedes at a time when the German constructor had yet to emerge as a dominant force.