McLaren has reported that F1 paddockꦑ favourite Mansour Ojjeh is recovering following a double lung transplant.

The Saudi-born entrepreneur had been suffering with IPF lung disease for the past four years but, following the operation, is now well on the road to a full recღovery and looking forward to rejoining the Woking team as it tours the world in 2014.

"My family and I have been through a very challenging period in our lives," Ojjeh commented in a statement released by McLaren, "However, I'm very grateful for the superb medical assistance that I've received, and I'm both elated and relieved that I'm now on t🍒he road to a full recovery.

"We've missed our great friends in the paddock, as well as the up-close-and-personꦿal excitement of F1, but we've faithfully watched every grand prix o💝n television and we're now looking forward to enjoying more great times together at the circuits again next season."

Ojjeh is 🌟the CEO of TAG, which owns 21 per cent of the McLaren Group.