Niki Lauda leaves the hospital after his lung transplant
Three-time world champion Niki Lauda has just left the hospital after two and a half months of treatment. The Austrian had been admitted there following a lung transplant.
Two and a half months ago, Niki Lauda’s health was threatened due to a severe flu that seemed to linger. His lungs had not fully recovered from his notorious crash at the Nurburgring in 1976.
The Austrian had thus been admitted in early August, as an emergency, for a lung transplant. It was then decided that he would be placed in an artificial coma because, according to the doctors, his life expectancy upon entering the hospital did not exceed a few days.
Not seeing the triple Austrian world champion in the paddocks had greatly saddened Formula 1 and especially Mercedes, where he is the non-executive director. While it is uncertain if the now 69-year-old former driver will be seen on the circuits this season, the probabilities of him returning in 2019 are high.
Indeed, the Mercedes team announced that Niki Lauda was able to return home to rest, thus confirming the statements of the Vienna hospital: Niki Lauda still has to undergo an intensive medical rehabilitation program over several weeks, the statement announced last Wednesday.
Two and a half months after a lung transplant, we’re delighted to hear that our Chairman and friend Niki Lauda has left hospital in Vienna.
Niki will now begin a phase of intensive rehabilitation, as he continues his road to recovery.
We can’t wait to have you back, Niki. pic.twitter.com/www1t64ZkM
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 24 octobre 2018
