Source: Mercedes-Benz Archive

F1 News

Wolff on Lauda: He can call me 'a**hole' again!

Wolff on Lauda: "He can call me 'a**hole' again!"

18-09-2018 13:43
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Nicolás Quarles van Ufford

After visiting his colleague Niki Lauda in the hospital earlier this month, Toto Wolff has joked that the Austrian can call him an "a**hole" again, as the 69-year-old is still recovering to full health.

Lauda fell very ill this summer while on holiday in Ibiza, needing an immediate transport to Vienna to get a lung transplant. His life was even in danger at one point, but the three-time fought back and recovered. 

He's still in the hospital as he needs to be kept an eye on, but his revalidation is going well.

Lauda won't be returning to the paddock this year, with his doctor advising him to not travel by plane for at least another year. As a licensed pilot, it's unlikely Lauda will fulfil that, but he is taking it slow in terms of coming back to F1.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff had some time to visit Lauda in the hospital, where he was pleased to see how his fellow countryman was doing.

"I was worried to see him after his huge operation," Wolff told German tv station RTL.

"I come in, and the first thing he did was smile, and then I thought I'd have to pick up where we left off, and say, 'You look better than you I expected'.

"Whereupon a slight 'asshole' escaped from his lips, which shows me he is in a good state."