Despite this, Lauda demanded to be discharged after 40 days. He could not wear a helmet due to raw scalp burns. He lost over 6 kg (13 lbs) and had no tear ducts, meaning his eyes would dry out in wind. His medical team called his request insane. His psychological reasoning, however, was precise: “If I waited until I was fully healed, I would never drive again. Fear would have won.”
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Only 42 days after the crash, Lauda qualified fifth at Monza. He wore a specially made helmet with padding soaked in anesthetic. After the race (he finished fourth), he removed his blood-soaked bandages in the paddock. This act—showing his wounds publicly—was a calculated psychological move. Lauda later explained that by normalizing his scars, he stripped fear of its power. Despite this, Lauda demanded to be discharged after 40 days