The return begins badly.
Fernando Alonso, the two-time Spanish Formula 1 world champion who is due to return to the paddock this season, was indeed the victim of a road accident while cycling in Switzerland.
It was his team, Alpin (ex-Renault), which announced it on Thursday evening.
Knocked down near his home in Lugano
“The team can confirm that Fernando Alonso was involved in a road accident while cycling in Switzerland.
Fernando is aware and feels good.
He is awaiting further medical examinations on Friday morning, ”writes Alpine, indicating that further information will be given on Friday.
The accident comes one month before pre-season testing, from March 12 to 14 in Bahrain, and a month and a half before the first Grand Prix of the 2021 season, also on March 28 in Bahrain, but his participation is not for the time being not called into question, according to a close source.
Jaw fracture and tooth damage
According to the Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, the accident took place near Lugano, in the south of Switzerland, where he lives.
Alonso was reportedly run over by a car and it is possible that he suffered a broken jaw and tooth damage, the possible severity of which will be clarified on Friday.
Alonso, crowned in 2005 and 2006 at Renault, must make his return to F1 this year, at Alpine, after two years of leave following his last years of galley at McLaren.
During this period, he participated in the World Endurance Championship (winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2018 and 2019 and the world title), the Indianapolis 500 and the Dakar.
The 39-year-old will be one of the two veterans of the field this season with the Finnish Kimi Räikkönen (Alfa Romeo).