Hamilton 'shocked' by Lauda health update

Lewis Hamilton delivered a hugely positive update on the health of Niki Lauda and says he will be able to visit Mercedes' none-executive chairman before the end of 2018. Lauda has been recuperating in hospital after undergoing a lung transplant in August.

Lauda fell ill on holiday and was ultimately hospitalised in Vienna – where he has remained in intensive care for the past two months as doctors try to stave off infection.

It was recently reported in Austrian press that Lauda will soon leave intensive care – an update confirmed by Hamilton, who fielded a call from his fellow F1 champion this week.

"He called me two days ago," Hamilton said. "I was shocked to hear from him.

"I said: 'You sound younger than ever'. He's very determined to come back and grateful to the doctors for their good work and to his wife.

"He said he should be released from intensive care soon and then I can visit him. For sure I'll be in Vienna before the end of the season.

"We miss him here in the team but we have his spirit at the races with us."

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