Bolded the important part. It's not a question whether you create a new thread/post a reply, but what you discuss in it.
Appealing your ban in a thread in meta and asking about it is alright, other (non related) topics in meta are still restricted.
This thread is called "Lauda has ~cry~" and is about Lauda, not the user and their ban, hence not a ban appeal and not covered by the exception.