When will Niki Lauda return to the F1 paddock?

Niki Lauda is unlikely to return to the Formula 1 paddock in 2018 after being ordered not to fly for the next six months, as reported by Austrian outlet OE24. Lauda remains in Vienna General Hospital as he recovers from a lung transplant.

Lauda has been in intensive care for the past fortnight, having avoided death by a matter of days according to doctors, after falling ill while on holiday in Spain.

The three-time F1 champion has made positive progress and is breathing unaided, talking to relatives and progressing with physiotherapy according to reports.

OE24 report that Lauda will remain hospitalised when he celebrates his 10th wedding anniversary with wife Birgit next weekend.

The Instagram account of Birgit Lauda Art Foundation recently broke a long silence while the racer was recovering.

“Art is the highest form of Hope “ #believe #believeinart #artisthehighestformofhope #phaidon #loveart #artcanchangetheworld #phaidonbooks #phaidonpress #artcanchange #artlover #contemporaryart #internationalartist #internationalart #donate #giveback #socialart @b.la_artfoundation @wwb_save @wwb_org

A post shared by Birgit Lauda Art Foundation (@b.la_artfoundation) on Aug 11, 2018 at 11:40pm PDT

Although surgeon Walter Klepetko has previously suggested that Lauda will be able to resume a "normal life", limitations will be placed upon the 69-year-old as his immune system recovers after he was placed in an artificial coma.

As well as a half-year stint that will see the racing driver turned airline mogul unable to fly, he is forbidden from swimming in public pools for the rest of his life, while he must limit contact with plants and animals.

He has also been ordered to holiday in countries neighbouring Austria in case he needs to be rushed back to hospital in the future.