Happy birthday Niki Lauda - 70 today!

Three-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda turns 70 today, and everyone at GPFans sends heartfelt best wishes to one of the absolute legends of the sport. Lauda's 70th birthday comes as the Austrian continues to recover from a lung transplant which saved his life last year.

Mercedes non-executive chairman has not been seen in the F1 paddock since falling ill while on a summer holiday, and his son Matthias recently confirmed that he has stopped aiming for a specific return, having had to cancel bids to make it to last year's Abu Dhabi GP and the season-opening 2019 race in Australia.

The Silver Arrows passed on well-wishes to Lauda on social media, as did the team's driver Valtteri Bottas.

Happy 70th Birthday, Niki! ????

A legend both on and off the track – send us your birthday wishes in the comments below! ????#HappyBirthdayNiki pic.twitter.com/xDYEOiBXxd — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) February 22, 2019

A very Happy Birthday Niki, from all of us at the Team! ???? ???? #HappyBirthdayNiki pic.twitter.com/5Oz1Tlf3Ut — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) February 22, 2019

Happy 70th Birthday Niki! ????#legend pic.twitter.com/6MvnqRsUAk — Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) February 22, 2019

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