F1 News - Niki Lauda readmitted to hospital after flu scare

Niki Lauda is back in hospital after being hit with the flu, but is expected to be released this week.

Lauda has been away from Formula 1 for several months, having taken ill last July. Prior to the German Grand Prix, Lauda was flown to hospital in Vienna for an emergency lung transplant. The procedure went well and Lauda was recovered sufficiently to return home to spend Christmas with his family in Ibiza.

However, a bout of flu has resulted in the three time World Champion being flown back to Vienna and into the intensive care unit at the AKH Hospital where he was treated over the past few months.

According to OE24, Karin Fehringer from the hospital confirmed the Austrian’s re-admission to hospital. “There was an influenza case in his family, and he is treated to an intensive care unit with us.” The report says that the initial effects of the virus were severe, due to Lauda’s slightly weakened state, but he has recovered quickly. Release from hospital could be within days.

In an interview with Austrian publisher Wolfgang Fellner, Lauda confirmed that his recovery at home in Ibiza has consisted of him training himself to walk again without support, requiring him to rebuild muscles through strength training. It’s not yet clear whether Lauda will be in a position to resume his role at Grands Prix as non-executive chairman at Mercedes AMG, at least in the short-term.