10 Sep 2018

Lauda will not return in 2018 - report

Niki Lauda will miss all of the remaining races this season, Bild newspaper has revealed.

The Formula 1 legend and Mercedes team chairman is reportedly still in intensive care in Vienna following a life-saving lung transplant.

Only family allowed

Lauda's friend Dr Helmut Marko, of Red Bull, told Bild that he has not been able to visit the 69-year-old.

READ: Wolff 'in regular contact' with Niki Lauda

"Only his family, so his wife and his children, can visit him. The doctors say the danger is that he will become infected with a virus or other people's bacteria.

Good luck to two of my favourite F1 people. Niki Lauda is recovering from a lung operation, get well soon legend, you are one tough human being. And horsepower to @danielricciardo taking a punchy new career direction, expect a Renault impossibly late on the brakes in 2019
— Martin Brundle (@MBrundleF1) August 3, 2018

We all miss him. Mercedes misses him, F1 misses him. Everyone misses him - his charisma, his straight words," the Austrian Marko added.

The newspaper said Lauda will not attend any of the remaining seven races this year, but Marko insisted: "Niki will fight through this and be with us again. We need him."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred

Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.

Join News24 today

description

username

Show Comments ()