Source: Mercedes-Benz Archive

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Lauda won't make return to F1 in 2018

Lauda won't make return to F1 in 2018

10-09-2018 12:44
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Nicolás Quarles van Ufford

Niki Lauda will not be making his return to the Mercedes garage this season, Red Bull advisor and good friend Dr Helmut Marko has confirmed, as the 69-year-old is still on the intensive care and needs more time to fully recover.

Lauda has had a lung transplant after falling very ill this summer while on holiday, and as his life was in danger at one point, he'll need a long period to fully recover before making a comeback to the Mercedes pitbox, where he always takes place next to Mercedes' team principal Toto Wolff.

Talking to German newspaper Bild, Marko revealed that his friend will not be seen at a Grand Prix weekend in 2018.

"Only his family, so his wife and kids, can visit him at the moment," the Austrian said.

"The doctors say the danger is that he will become infected with a virus or other people's bacteria.

"Niki will fight through this and be with us again - we need him."

Despite being on rivalling teams, Marko and Lauda are close friends and go back a long time, with the two Austrians knowing each other for decades.

Mercedes are currently locked in an intense title race with Ferrari, and according to Bild, Lauda will not be attending any of the seven remaining races.