Discharged Alonso heads back home after cycling accident

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Fernando Alonso has been discharged from hospital and is heading back home where the Alpine driver will continue his recovery after undergoing surgery for a fractured jaw following his cycling crash last week.

Alonso suffered an unfortunate encounter with a car last Thursday while training near his home in Lugano, the Spaniard tumbling head over heels and suffering a fractured jaw and a few broken teeth.

The two-time world champion was confined to his hospital room in Bern over the weekend in the wake of his surgery but was discharged on Monday according to a statement from the Alpine team.

"After a period of 48 hours observation at hospital in Switzerland, Fernando Alonso has now been discharged to continue his recovery at home," the French outfit said.

"He will now have a short period of complete rest before progressively resuming training to undertake preparation for the start of the season.

"As always, thank you for your best wishes for Fernando's recovery."

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Alonso, who returns to the grid this season in F1 after a two-year hiatus, tweeted last Friday that he was "Ok and looking forward to getting 2021 underway".

The 39-year-old is expected to be fit and well for the start of pre-season testing which will kick off in Bahrain on March 12, while the first round of the 2021 F1 world championship will take place at Sakhir on March 28.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.