Fernando Alonso, a two-time Formula One champion, underwent corrective surgery on his laces after being involved in a traffic accident on Thursday.
Alonso was taken off his bike while riding in Switzerland. Alonso is expected to return to F1 with Renault’s rebranded team Alpine this season, which kicks off with a preseason test in Bahrain on March 12th.
On Friday, Alpine confirmed that it held jaws high in the crash. The operation was successful and the Spaniard will be under surveillance for another 48 hours.
The Alpine statement concluded: “We expect to be fully operational to prepare for the season”.
Local police also released a report of the incident: “Cantonal Police have announced that a 42-year-old Swiss driver was staying in the Lugano area yesterday, shortly before 2pm in the Lugano area driving alongside Via La Santa Pregassona side.
“According to an original reconstruction and for reasons that require a police investigation, while making a left turn to enter a supermarket car park, she was struck by a Spanish citizen. 39-year-old, who was riding a bicycle and passing a line of stationary vehicles on the right. The accident happened against the right side of the car.
“Officers from Cantonal Police and with the support of the Lugano Police Force, as well as rescuers from the Lugano Green Cross, arrived at the scene and, after the first treatment of the cyclist, took him in a vehicle- hospitalization. “
Alonso ‘s expected two seasons double in other car racing divisions. It became a two-time World Sustainability Championship with Toyota, which won Le Mans 24 Hours in 2018.
His bid to become the second driver to win the Triple Crown – victories at the Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans and Indy 500 – has been postponed. Alonso entered the Indy 500 in 2017 and 2020, and did not succeed in 2019, but will not compete in the event while under contract for an F1 job at Alpine.
The F1 season kicks off with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 28, two weeks after the three-day preseason test at the same venue.