Ahead of this weekends Singapore Grand Prix, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff went to visit his friend and colleague Niki Lauda. Lauda had a lung transplant operation a couple of months ago and has been resting ever since. Whilst, not this season, Wolff is confident we will see Lauda "back in the pits" soon.
"Of course, physically he has weakened but otherwise he is completely lucid," Wolff told Kronen Zeitung after a visit to AKH Hospital.
"There's no difference at all, he's lost none of his dry humour. He has so much strength and is such a phenomenal fighter. I'm really convinced: Niki will be back in the pits!"
Lauda, 69, works as a technical advisor to the Mercedes team. Despite being ill, Wolff explained how Lauda maintains keen interest on the developments in Brackley and trackside.
"He just wants to know everything, about the teams and drivers. That's why he told me to bombard him with emails at the end of each training and racing day," Wolff added.
“Niki has just made a short pitstop in his life, driving an extra lap. But he will be back again!”