The present invention relates to novel lubricant additives for improving the tribological properties, novel lubricants containing these additives, processes for the preparation thereof and the use thereof. Lubricant comprises ceramic nanoparticles as additives comprising aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide, yttrium oxide, tungsten oxide, tantalum pentoxide, vanadium pentoxide, niobium pentoxide, cerium dioxide, boron carbide, aluminum titanate, boron nitride, molybdenum disilicide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, zirconium diboride and/or clay minerals, and thermally stable carbonates and/or sulfates. The nanoparticles represent an ellipsoid with three semi-axes a, b and c, which are not equal to each other, or equal to each other. The ratio of a and b is 1-100, a and c is 1-1000, and b and c is 1:100.