Lauda doctor: "Clear for some time" he would not recover

Niki Lauda's doctor, Walter Klepetko, has said that it was unlikely that the Austrian F1 legend would recover and return to the F1 paddock.

Lauda passed away on Monday night aged 70 after a battle with kidney problems, having undergone a lung transplant last year.

Klepetko told the Austrian press agency: "It was a long process at the end of which the patient passed away.

"Niki Lauda fought. He was a great man. But it had been clear for some time that we could not get him back on the 'racing track.'"

The F1 world has been deeply saddened and shocked by the passing of three-time world champion Lauda and everyone at GPBlog.com would like to pass on their condolences to Lauda's family and friends.