Court date for Jamshed
0203 598 4717 Lauda: Double lung op’s worse than ’76 crash but I’m still here for Lewis
BANNED Pakistan star Nasir Jamshed has been charged with bribery offences as part of a spot-fixing investigation.
He will appear before Manchester Magistrates’ Court on January 15. HALF BOARD - Breakfast & Dinner NIKI LAUDA has claimed undergoing a double lung transplant in August was worse than his infamous Nurburgring crash in 1976.
But the Austrian Formula One legend revealed he was in constant contact with Lewis Hamilton from his hospital bed as the British star won his fifth world title.
Lauda, 69, suffered horrific burns when pulled from the wreckage of his Ferrari by Arturo Merzario and Guy Edwards 42 years ago.
And the Italian driver called his old rival this week to enquire about his latest recovery.
Back in 1976, Lauda missed only two races and was back six weeks later, although he lost out on the world title to James Hunt.
Now in his “third life”, the Mercedes nonexecutive chairman said: “When I had the accident in Germany, it was only a question of a month or a little bit more. Yes, I had burns, but I recovered quickly.
“This time it was really long, but I am still here. I was never scared. I was in the hands of excellent specialists. I knew there was only one thing to do – fight. I did that and I am still doing it now.
“I was in hospital until two days ago, then I had permission to go home and I flew to Ibiza where I will spend Christmas with my family.
“I have to do six hours of training every day. But I am back in my own four walls and, in a month, I will be in top form and ready to go again. Doing what? My usual life – following Formula One.”
Three-time F1 champion Lauda still watched Hamilton lead Mercedes to the title from his hospital bed.
“I did not miss a single Grand Prix, even though I was on lots of drips,” said the Austrian.
“I was part of all the races, I phoned the pit box at the end of every week and they always told me what was happening. I discovered once more the warmth of the great people I’ve worked with for years – all worried about me.”
Lauda has developed a strong bond with Hamilton since signing him for the German outfit for the 2013 season – but he reckons 2018 was the Brit’s best.
“He was exceptional,” said Lauda. “He won his most difficult world title because often the Ferrari was better than us. But he did not commit an error. Between one race and the next, he would phone me and fill me in on all the details.”
But Lauda was also touched by a gesture from the current star of Ferrari.
“One of the things that gave me most pleasure was a letter sent to me by Sebastian Vettel, written in his own hand, full of beautiful words and kindness,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I wasn’t expecting this, usually drivers don’t do this – they drive and that’s it. But he is a beautiful person.
“He will return as strong as ever and he will again be the big rival for Hamilton in 2019.”