Lauda won't return to F1 for some time - Marko

Niki Lauda needs more time before he is ready to return to Formula 1. That is the view of his friend and fellow Austrian Dr Helmut Marko, who says he misses his breakfast buddy in the F1 paddock during pre-season testing.

Although rivals in their respective roles at Mercedes and Red Bull, Marko says he has a "respectful friendship" with the F1 legend.

Lauda had a lung transplant last year after falling ill while on holiday and doctors have previously revealed that the Austrian came mere days from dying, before he was operated on.

Lauda's immune system was weakened by his stay in hospital, while he remained too weak to visit grands prix in the latter half of last season, despite aiming to have returned at the Abu Dhabi GP.

A bout of flu over Christmas meant Lauda had to go back into intensive care, but he is once again at home, where a rehab regime described as "intensive" goes on.

"It's an unfamiliar situation for me now. I'm lonely at breakfast and there's not someone who can replace him," Marko told RTL.

Hopes were high that Lauda, 70, could finally return to the paddock early in 2019 following his lung transplant of last year.

Marko, though, says the Mercedes team chairman needs more time.

"Thank God he is better, but it will take some time before he can be among so many people," he said.

Lauda's doctor Walter Klepetko said last week that Lauda cannot take the transcontinental flight to Melbourne, adding: "Large crowds are always a potential threat of infection".

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