Alpine expect Alonso to be ‘fully operational’ ahead of new season
Fernando Alonso has undergone a “successful corrective operation” for a fractured jaw following a cycling accident in Switzerland, according to his Alpine team – with the Spaniard expected to be declared fit for pre-season testing in March.
Following the accident while training in Switzerland, Alonso was immediately taken to hospital, with x-rays revealing a fracture to his jaw that required surgery.
A statement released this morning from Alpine said: “Fernando Alonso was kept under observation in hospital in Switzerland. Medics discovered a fracture in his upper jaw and conducted a successful corrective operation. The attending medical team are satisfied with his progress.
“Fernando will remain under observation in hospital for a further 48 hours.”
The statement also added optimistically that Alonso “will be able to progressively resume training. We expect him be fully operational to undertake preparation for the season.”
That prognosis will be a relief to both Alonso and Alpine as they prepare for his F1 comeback, with Alonso set to return to the sport this season, having left at the end of 2018 following four largely frustrating seasons at McLaren.
Alonso is due to try out Alpine’s new F1 car, set to be called the A521, at the Bahrain International Circuit for pre-season testing on March 12-14, ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on March 28.
In joining Alpine, meanwhile, Alonso will be returning to the ‘Enstone’ organisation with whom, in their Renault guise, he won his two World Championships in 2005 and 2006.
