F1 race winner receives 'outpouring of support' after health 'emergency'

Former McLaren F1 driver and Le Mans 24 Hours winner Jochen Mass is in a stable condition following what has been described as "a medical emergency".

Mass competed in F1 from 1973-1982, initially with Team Surtees, before joining McLaren at the end of 1974. The 78-year-old German drove for the team for three seasons, winning one grand prix - the 1975 Spanish - and taking the podium on seven other occasions.

Mass later drove for ATS, Arrows and March but failed to make the top three again with any of those teams over the final four years.

Mass' greatest success came in the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans, claiming overall victory in a Sauber C9 Mercedes-Benz alongside Manuel Reuter and Stanley Dickens. Seven years earlier, he had finished second.

A statement on Mass, who last drove competitively in 1995, has been released by the family via social media.

It read: "The family of Jochen Mass wishes to share that he is currently recovering from a recent medical emergency.

"While Jochen’s condition is stable, he will be stepping back from all public appearances and engagements for the foreseeable future as he focuses on his recovery.

"We as a family are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and kindly request privacy during this time.

"We are wishing Jochen a speedy recovery."