Niki Lauda operated on in Austria for a lung transplant
Absent from the last two Grand Prix in Germany and Hungary, Niki Lauda was officially recovering from the flu. Yesterday, it was revealed that the Austrian had actually undergone surgery for a lung transplant due to respiratory complications.
For two Grand Prix, the Non-Executive Director of Mercedes, Niki Lauda, was not present in the Mercedes garages with Toto Wolff.
The team initially reported that the Austrian was recovering from a severe flu contracted during his vacation in Ibiza.
Unfortunately, the health of the triple world champion has faced complications as his respiratory condition has significantly worsened in recent days, forcing his repatriation to a hospital in Vienna for a lung transplant, as stated by the doctors of the Vienna General Hospital in a press release: Due to a severe lung infection, Niki Lauda underwent a lung transplant at the AKH in Vienna. The transplant was successfully performed by Walter Klepetko, head of thoracic surgery, and Konrad Hotzenecker. We kindly ask for your understanding that the family will not be making any official statements and request that the privacy of the Lauda family be respected.
The former Ferrari driver had been the victim of a terrible accident in 1976, leaving him for dead after inhaling toxic fumes and being severely burned. He miraculously survived after weeks of hospitalization. Ironically, this accident took place on August 1, 1976, exactly 42 years ago.
