After finally leaving the hospital to continue his recovery in a clinic, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has praised his colleague and friend Niki Lauda for his fighting mentality while the Austrian was hospitalized.
Lauda was in critical condition after collapsing during his holiday in Ibiza this summer. He was flown over to Vienna, where he needed a lung transplant in order to survive. The 69-year-old has left the hospital by now, three months after first checking in, as the doctors needed to check whether the new lung wouldn't be rejected by Lauda's body.
Wolff, a colleague and a very close friend of the three-time champion, was quick to mention that the speedy recovery was because of Lauda's fighter mentality.
"Like everyone at Mercedes, I'm more than happy that Lauda has been able to take the next step as he has left the hospital," Wolff told Bild.
"Niki is a real fighter!"
Still, Wolff remains cautious about his fellow countryman.
"It's a very heavy procedure which he has undergone.
"It will take some time for him to fully recover and become his old self.
"We're looking forward to his return, in any case."
Wolff concluded the interview with a good anecdote from his last visit to Lauda.
"When I visited Niki in the hospital a few weeks ago, I told him he looked better than I expected.
"Niki responded with '***hole' and I instantly knew that he was feeling better."
Not only Wolff, but Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have also expressed their happiness with Lauda making his recovery.
Read more about:
Today
Popular on GPBlog
1
Norris crash gave Lambiase crucial idea says Max: 'It was the right call'
1730 times read
2
Marko makes striking statement after Verstappen's pole: 'McLaren bluffed quite a bit'
1463 times read
3
McLaren not at all surprised by Verstappen: 'Red Bull played hide and seek'
1005 times read
4
F1 Live | Follow Qualifying for the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix!
928 times read