Fernando Alonso returns to the Formula 1 grid after two years out of the sport this season, and is ‘totally fit’ for a pre-season test despite his earlier cycling crash this year, according to its Alpine leader
By Matt Morlidge
Last updated: 09/03/21 7:00 am
Formula 1 two-time world champion Fernando Alonso returns in “best form” and “absolutely fit” to test this weekend despite the injuries he suffered in a cycling accident last month.
Alonso, who is making a serious return to the grid – after two years away – with the Alpine rebranding team in 2021, his F1 preparation rocked in February when he was the involved in a car crash while training in Switzerland, a hospital with high broken jaws.
But although Alonso has not been present since the launch of his new car, the A521, he and the team maintain that he is recovering well from his surgery and will they are ready for three days of crucial trials in Bahrain, starting this coming Friday.
“I feel great and in the best shape I’ve ever been before physically and mentally,” said Alonso, 39, who appeared at his team’s launch via video link.
Alpine Chief Laurent Rossi then confirmed to reporters: “Fernando is doing very well. He had a serious accident. A bicycle accident seldom goes smoothly, but he was lucky and only finished. suffering with his jaws.
1:29 Watch as the first Formula 1 car called Alpine was launched ahead of the new season at the Enstone team launch
“So in addition to the surgery and the necessary care, the rest is absolutely fine. Fernando is perfectly fit. It totally works.
“It surprises us even that he has recovered so quickly. He assured us almost immediately after what happened that he will be in Bahrain, which has been confirmed by his doctors.
“It looks like it was right because it’s totally appropriate, and we look forward to seeing it next week in the car.”
Following the Bahrain test, the season will begin at the Sakhir Tour two weeks later on March 28th.
Alonso last moved into F1 in 2018 with McLaren, and won both his titles with Renault – which has been rebranded as Alpine for this year – in 2005 and 2006.
‘Motivated’, ‘challenging’, ‘determined’: Alonso explained
Alonso has been described as “extremely motivated” and “very critical” before returning to the sport, which he says he does in the hope of returning to the top again – especially when the big rule of 2022 will change into.
Alpine ‘s new racing director, Davide Brivio, says Alonso “may have been on a golden series, but he wanted to get back to the most competitive environment and compete against some of the emerging new talents”.
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Extending his initial conversations with the Spaniard, Brivio said: “I feel like he’s a very ordinary person, just very motivated, very willing to put everything together to ‘get the best out of the car, the best out of the team.
“Because he doesn’t come back just to drive a car. He comes back to try to get good results, to get some satisfaction.
“And yes, it’s in high demand, but that’s what I like. We need this kind of driver who really wants to put everything together to try and get the most out of it.”
0:30 Watch Season 1 and 2 of the Netflix Original Series, Formula 1: Drive to Survive, with two programs each night on Sky Sports F1 from 9.30pm from Sunday, March 14
“I welcome this kind of vision, this kind of approach, and of course we have to try to work together as best we can to use its capabilities and capabilities.”
Brivio also described Alonso as “one of the most determined athletes I have ever met”.
Live F1 test on Sky Sports F1
New-look cars. A new mix of drivers and teams. And just three days of road testing to get up to speed before the start of the new Formula 1 season.
There has never been a pre-season test record like this – and you can watch it all live on Sky Sports F1 from next Friday as Formula 1 2021 kicks off in full with three days of activity in Bahrain.
With coverage starting early in the morning on March 12 and running through the weekend, Sky F1 is the place to watch the eight o’clock of live trail activity from every day – and night Accurate display and Ted’s confirmation notebook.
Sky F1’s Martin Brundle, David Croft, Ted Kravitz, Rachel Brookes and Karun Chandhok will be out in Bahrain to help tell the story of each day’s path and the big pre-season stories.
Features Friday, Saturday and Sunday coverage:
- Live coverage of morning and afternoon trail sessions
- An evening dress show summarizing the day’s key moments & interviews
- Ted’s confirmation notebook
In addition to the Sky F1 channel, subscribers can monitor the live activity on their mobile phone by logging in with their Sky iD on the Sky Sports App.
Sky Sports website and app is the place for the live digital blog with updates, schedules and free video clips of key events and interviews.
You can also follow the latest updates through the Sky F1 social channels.
The new 23-race F1 season kicks off back in Bahrain on March 26-28, with all races live on Sky Sports F1 – the only place to see the entire season live.