Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko has said that close friend Niki Lauda “still has a long way to go” after falling ill and having a lung transplant last year.
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The Austrian fell ill whilst on holiday and had to have a lung transplant, whilst doctors revealed that he came close to being a few days away from dying before the operation.
Because of his illness and transplant he was unable to attend and spectate and of the remaining Grand Prix last year. Lauda went back into intensive care over Christmas due to the flu, now recovering at home but is unlikely to be in the Formula 1 paddock for a while according to Marko.
Red Bull man, Marko told RTL that “Lauda still has a long way to go, he needs a lot of patience.”
“Lauda will support his team by telephone.”
Lauda’s son Matthias gave an insight of the rehabilitation process his father is going through to La Gazzetta dello Sport in attempt to make it back to the paddock to advise his Mercedes team.
“He needs to do physiotherapy to recover his energies.”
“Dad has undergone a complex operation and has had bad moments, but he has a strong character and is fighting.
“He trains with fury and I hope that soon we will see him in shape.”
“I speak to him every day. When I’m not there, with him there is my brother Lucas. One of us is still in Vienna.”
Lauda suffered from a bout of flu earlier this year and had to be hospitalised yet again. Fortunately, it seems that he is recovering well and could be back in the Mercedes garage soon enough.
For now, Red Bull and Mercedes will be gearing up for the 2019 Formula One season.
Imago
Niki Lauda and Helmut Marko are good friends