The start of Fernando Alonso's 2021 season has not been compromised by the cycling accident suffered by the Alpine driver on Thursday, according to a report from Spanish media.
Alonso reportedly suffered a fractured jaw and a few broken teeth when he was hit by a car while training near his home in Lugano, Switzerland.
Spanish website Marca reported that further tests scheduled on Friday morning will determine whether the 39-year-old will require some minor surgery.
"The blow was to his face, without affecting his arms or legs, and the jaw could even have been affected with a fracture and some teeth according to the CT scan performed," Marca stated.
"The doctors seem to have a good prognosis since they would have assured him that it’s not so bad that he won’t miss the mid-March tests or the start of the season in Bahrain on March 28.
"In any case it will be the tests, with less swelling in the area, that will determine if a small operation is necessary or what treatment the driver should take and the final degree of severity."
Spanish doctor Jose Gonzalez added: "If there is a mandibular fracture, the tests will be because they want to see if there is a displacement and whether to put a plate on it.
"If it really is a clean fracture, there should be no need for further testing. Either way, whatever it is, it’s not a major injury.
"So it can be said, almost with complete certainty, that he could be without any problems in the pre-season tests in Bahrain."
Alonso returns to F1 this season with Alpine after a two-year hiatus. Pre-season testing will kick off in Bahrain in exactly a month, while the 2021 season will also start at Sakhir on March 28.
Update:
Alpine F1 issued a statement on Alonso's condition midday on Friday:
"Following his cycling accident yesterday Fernando Alonso was kept under observation in hospital in Switzerland," the statement from Alpine reads.
"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.
"Looking forward, after a few days of complete rest, he will be able to progressively resume training. We expect him be fully operational to undertake preparation for the season."
Alpine F1 Team Statement pic.twitter.com/P2yXlpyCBj
— Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) February 12, 2021
Furthermore, the local police in Swizterland offered more detail on Alonso's crash, confirming that the Spaniard hit a car as it was turning into a supermarket car park.
"The Cantonal Police has announced that yesterday, shortly before 2 pm in Viganello, a 42-year-old Swiss driver living in the Lugano area was driving along Via La Santa in the direction of Pregassona," the statement reads.
"According to an initial reconstruction and for reasons that the police investigation will have to establish, while she was making a left-hand turn to enter a supermarket car park, she collided with a 39-year-old Spanish citizen, who was riding his bicycle and passing a line of stationary vehicles on the right. The collision took place against the right side of the car.
"Officers from the Cantonal Police and in support from the Lugano Police Force, as well as rescuers from the Lugano Green Cross, arrived on the scene and, after giving the cyclist initial treatment, took him by ambulance to hospital."
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