Sir Stirling Moss in Singapore hospital after chest infection

Motor racing legend Sir Stirling Moss is recovering from a "serious" chest infection in a hospital in Singapore, it has emerged.

The 87-year-old was taken ill three days before Christmas, according to reports. He is improving despite some initial setbacks, and he is now said to be in a stable condition.

"Sir Stirling was admitted to hospital in Singapore on 22nd December 2016 with a serious chest infection," the family said in a statement published on the racing star's website.

"Because of the severity of the infection it resulted in some complications and his recovery has not been as speedy as was expected or wished. However, his condition continues to improve and his doctors now consider him to be stable.

"In himself, Sir Stirling is in good spirits and only upset about having missed his Christmas cruise with friends.

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"The hospital in Singapore is second to none and the consultants, doctors, nurses, therapists and staff looking after him could not be more wonderful; as kind and caring as they are professional. Lady Moss says she could not wish for a better facility or a more qualified team. She is very grateful to them all.

"Once he is discharged from the hospital, it is Sir Stirling and Lady Moss's hope to stay in Singapore to enjoy a few days recuperating at a lovely hotel, being thoroughly spoilt, whilst lying in the sun by a gorgeous swimming pool.

"A little something to make up for the cruise they missed and with the bonus of escaping from the English winter for a while longer."

Lady Moss told the Daily Mail newspaper that "It was not the Christmas we had in mind. He has never enjoyed the English winter, but this is a rather extreme way to avoid it! Onwards and upwards from here. He is such a fighter."

A veteran of 66 Grand Prix races, Sir Stirling was once rated by five-time Formula One world champion Juan Manuel Fangio as the greatest driver of all.

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.