Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso will ‘undergo an operation on his jaw and face’ after he was struck by a car while cycling and hospitalised in Switzerland, throwing into doubt his grand prix comeback for the newly branded Alpine team.
On a bike ride to build up his fitness ahead of his return to F1, Alonso, 39, was hit by a car near his home in Lugano, Italy, but is reported to be ‘conscious’ and ‘well in himself’.
Spanish radio station Cadena SER detailed after news of the crash broke that he is to be transferred to another hospital in Switzerland, a facility in the city of Bern, as he requires an operation.
It was reported that Alonso’s face and jaw had been ‘very affected’ from the crash after he collided with the ground following his impact with the car.
Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso (pictured) has hospitalised after being hit by a vehicle
The two-time F1 world champion was struck by a car while out on a training ride near Lugano (pictured right, on a different bike ride in Le Mans, France, back in 2018)
According to a report by Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, the two-time F1 world champion was struck by a car while out on a training ride near Lugano, where he lives.
Alonso has been building up his fitness ahead of a return to Formula 1 with Alpine – the team previously known as Renault – after a two-year spell away from the grid.
A statement from the Alpine F1 team read: ‘Alpine F1 Team can confirm that Fernando Alonso has been involved in a road accident while cycling in Switzerland.
‘Fernando is conscious and well in himself and is awaiting further medical examinations tomorrow morning.
A statement from Alonso’s Alpine F1 team detailed that he is ‘conscious and well in himself’
He was taken to hospital following the accident, but is said to ‘conscious’ and ‘well in himself’
He is due to make his Formula One comeback this season after two years out of the sport
‘Alpine F1 Team will not make any further statement at this point in time. Further updates will be given tomorrow.’
Alonso is a legend of the sport but this accident comes as a major setback with the new season on the horizon.
Gazzetta dello Sport stated that Alonso may have suffered possible fractures – putting his return in doubt.
News of the accident received a wave of support from the F1 world with former British world champion Jenson Button among those to send their thoughts.
Button tweeted: ‘Hey well soon @alo_oficial, while Romain Grosjean, who departed F1 last season after working with Haas, said ‘get well soon’.
Current Ferrari driver, and fellow Spaniard, Carlos Sainz wrote: ‘Cheer up @alo_oficial, let’s hope it is nothing and you recover as soon as possible!’
McLaren, Haas F1 and Aston Martin F1 were among the teams that sent their best wishes to Alpine and Alonso.
However, Alonso may have suffered possible fractures – putting his return in serious doubt
Alonso has claimed 32 grand prix victories and 97 podiums across his career so far
The world of Formula One rallied around Alonso with former drivers Jenson Button and Romain Grosjean joining current Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz in wishing the Spaniard a speedy recovery
‘Just heard about my friend Fernando Alonso’s accident, I wish him a speedy recovery,’ Yazeed Al-Rajhi, who raced against Alonso at the 2020 Dakar Rally, said on Twitter.
Should Alonso be able to return to the grid for the 2021 season, he will do so 20 years after his F1 debut with Minardi in 2001.
During his career, Alonso has also raced in sportscars, IndyCar and the Dakar Rally, but announced last summer that he would be returning to grand prix racing in 2021 on a multi-year deal with the French manufacturer Renault.
Alonso claimed both his F1 drivers’ championship titles in 2005 and 2006 and this will be his third stint with the constructor formerly known as Renault.
In total, he has won 32 races from the 311 in which he has started. The Spaniard is sixth on the sport’s all-time winners list.
Alonso has undergone advanced preparations for his return by completing extensive testing in the 2018-spec Renault F1 car last year, as well as twice sampling the 2020 R.S.20 model.