ALONSO’S BATTLE TO BE FIT FOR F1 RETURN
Two-time World champion has operation on broken jaw after cycling accident in Switzerland
Bosses of the Alpine Formula 1 team expect the returning Fernando Alonso to be ready to take his place on the grid for the opening grand prix of the season in Bahrain despite breaking his jaw in a cycling accident last week.
The Spaniard was in collision with a car while he was out training in Lugano, Switzerland on Thursday last week. The 39-year-old, who lives in the town, underwent a “corrective” operation on Friday which was described as a success.
A statement from the Alpine team, which raced as Renault in 2020, said: “The medical team are satisfied with his progress. After a few days of complete rest, he will be able to progressively resume training. We expect him to be fully operational to [prepare] for the season.”
Pre-season testing for the 2021 F1 season is due to take place in Bahrain on March 12-14, while the opening grand prix of the year is scheduled to take place at the same venue on March 28.
Fernando Alonso could be forced to miss pre-season testing for the second time in his career after a cycling accident while training last week.
The 39-year-old, who is due to make his grand prix comeback this term with the rebranded Alpine team (formerly Renault), was in collision with a road car near his home in Lugano in Switzerland last Thursday.
He was taken to hospital and underwent an operation on a broken jaw. This year’s preseason Formula 1 testing will take place in Bahrain on March 12-14, just under two weeks before the opening race of the season in the same country.
Alonso, a 32-time grand prix winner, was also forced to sit out the opening round of the 2015 season in Australia after a testing accident with McLaren left him with concussion.
Alonso was attended by police officers and paramedics after his bike accident last week, and they issued a statement which confirmed they are investigating the cause of the crash.
The statement said: “While [the driver was] making a left turn manoeuvre to enter a supermarket parking lot, there was a collision with a 39-year-old Spanish citizen, who was riding his bicycle and passing the column of stationary vehicles in the opposite direction on the right. The collision occurred against the right-hand side of the car.”
A statement from the Alpine team said that the 2005 and
2006 World champion was expected to be fit enough to continue his preparations for the 2021 competition after he had recuperated.
It said: “The medical team are satisfied with his progress. “After a few days of complete rest, he will be able to progressively resume training. We expect him to be fully operational to [prepare] for the season.”