Pace of recovery nicely improving for Lauda, says brother

Niki Lauda is slowly but surely recovering following the lung transplant he underwent earlier thus summer, the F1 legend now doing "a lot better" according to his brother.

It was feared Lauda's recovery process had hit complications following news the 69-year-old remained in intensive care in Vienna and would not be returning to the F1 paddock this year.

However, Florian Lauda, the Mercedes non-executive chairman's younger brother, insists his sibling is doing well.

"Thank God, he's a lot better now," Florian told Austria's ORF broadcaster.

"He's on the phone, he's watching the races on television," he revealed.

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"Of course he will need to do rehabilitation, as he will not get back to how he was too quickly," Florian Lauda added.

"But he is a tough man, which is what made him famous," he said. "He is very focused in difficult situations."

Motor Sport Magazine Grand Prix editor Mark Hughes also relayed on twitter yesterday some positive news out of Austria

"Have heard from someone who visited him that Niki Lauda is on the mend, swearing at people and being a general pain in the butt to his nurses! Great stuff. See you soon Niki," Hughes wrote.

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