Former Formula 1 driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen reassured fans this Monday (18), by posting an update directly from the hospital after undergoing back surgery in Germany. The German appeared in a photo lying in a hospital bed wearing a cervical collar and giving a thumbs-up with his hand.
Read more F1: Lawson comments on problem affecting teams in 2026
The post was made on the day Frentzen turned 59. The former driver took advantage of the date to reveal that he recently underwent the procedure in his hometown, Mönchengladbach, and treated the situation with good humor by stating that he received a ‘new disc’ as a birthday present.
“Happy birthday to me!”, wrote the former driver on social media. “I woke up after back surgery with hundreds of birthday messages, thank you very much! I got a brand new disc as a gift this year. I am feeling very blessed. Greetings from Mönchengladbach.”
Frentzen competed in 156 GPs in Formula 1 between 1994 and 2003. During his career in the category, he drove for teams such as Sauber, Williams, Jordan, Prost, and Arrows. The best moment of his career came in 1997, when he finished the championship in second place, behind only Jacques Villeneuve, then his teammate at Williams.
Read more F1: Sainz sets the first lap on the Madrid circuit
Even more than two decades after leaving Formula 1, Frentzen continues to closely follow the category’s events and frequently comments on current topics on social media. Recently, he gave his opinion on Max Verstappen’s statements, who expressed dissatisfaction with the 2026 regulations.
On that occasion, the German said that a Dutch driver should consider stopping if he loses motivation: “If you lose motivation in F1, it’s better to leave or at least take a break. That’s what I did. The sport is too dangerous when you lose focus,” he said.
Frentzen also commented on discussions about possible changes in the balance between combustion engines and electric power in Formula 1 from 2027 onwards. According to him, reducing speed on straights just to recharge batteries makes no sense in terms of efficiency. The former driver argued that recharging should occur during normal braking or by taking advantage of the slipstream of other cars, allowing lighter cars and more efficient fuel use during races.
Read more F1: Mercedes and McLaren anticipate intense duel in Canada
