Lauda 'in good spirits’, wants Mercedes Mexico win - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton says Niki Lauda is "in good spirits” and keeping up the pressure on the Mercedes Formula 1 team to deliver a victory at this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.

The three-time F1 world champion and Mercedes non-executive chairman was released from Vienna General Hospital earlier this week, two and a half months after undergoing a lung transplant.

Lauda, who suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash at the Nurburgring in 1976, was admitted to hospital in August after being diagnosed with “severe lung disease”.

He is now set to spend several weeks in intensive rehabilitation as his recovery continues.

“It’s great news about Niki,” Hamilton said to media gathered at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez in Mexico.

“I spoke to him and had a nice call from him just a week ago, and he said he was hoping he could get released from intensive care.

“Now he’s been released from hospital into intensive rehab, so now he’s going to be working hard to regain his strength.

“He’s still very much the same character, very funny on the phone, always cracking jokes,” Hamilton added. “He’s in good spirits.”

Hamilton revealed Lauda has remained in touch with the Mercedes team and was “upset” that the reigning world champions were unable to win last weekend’s United States Grand Prix.

“He’s obviously very much in touch with everyone here at the team. He’s such a racer, he loves a car,” Hamilton said.

“He was upset we didn’t win the last race, he says he wants us to win here.”