Former F1 world champion back in hospital five months after lung transplant

Former F1 world champion back in hospital five months after lung transplant

By: Francis Joseph

Three-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda is in hospital in Vienna with influenza, five months after having a lung transplant.

It is understood that doctors are taking every precaution given the serious nature of Lauda's surgery.

Austrian Lauda, 69, was given his transplant in August after doctors found he had "severe lung disease".

Doctors said after the transplant that he would have had between three and seven days to live without the surgery.

Lauda, a Mercedes F1 non-executive chairman, has legendary status in F1 not just for his championships - two with Ferrari and one for McLaren - and 25 race wins but his recovery from a fiery accident at the 1976 German Grand Prix.

Lauda was given the last rites after his Ferrari caught fire and he was trapped inside it at the Nurburgring, suffering severe burns to his face, hands and lungs. He raced in Italy 40 days later.

Doctors said the illness this year was not a consequence of the accident.