Niki Lauda won't make it to the Australian Grand Prix

Red Bull Racing advisor and longtime friend of Niki Lauda Dr Helmut Marko has said Lauda won't recover in time to attend either the winter testing in Barcelona or the Australian Grand Prix, as the three-time champion still recovers in the hospital.

Lauda, at 69 years old, had a lung transplant in the summer of 2018 after collapsing during a holiday.

Not long after leaving the hospital to continue his recovery in the comfort of his home, the Austrian suffered a setback during the Christmas period and was forced to go back to the hospital. Although he seems to be recovering just fine, the Mercedes advisor will miss the start of the 2019 season, according to Marko.

"The six-month stay in hospital was difficult for Niki," Marko told German broadcaster RTL.