Alpine F1 driver Alonso discharged from hospital after surgery on broken jaw

Double Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso has been discharged from hospital after being injured in a cycling accident.

Alonso was hospitalised after being hit by a car while riding his bike near his home in Switzerland last Thursday and underwent a “successive corrective operation” for a fractured jaw he sustained in the accident.

The Spaniard, who is returning to F1 with Alpine this season after a two-year hiatus, remained in hospital over the weekend for a further 48-hour period of observation before being discharged on Monday.

Alonso is set to resume training as preparation for the start of the 2021 F1 season soon following a short period of recovery at home, with Alpine saying they expect him to be “fully operational” in time for pre-season testing, which takes place in Bahrain between 12-14 March.

“After a period of 48 hours observation at hospital in Switzerland, Fernando Alonso has now been discharged to continue his recovery at home,” a statement from Alpine confirmed.

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

On Friday afternoon, Alonso himself tweeted a message to thank his fans for their messages of support and said that he was “OK” and is “looking forward to getting 2021 underway”.

Alpine F1 Team Statement pic.twitter.com/B4v0SETlHy

— Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) February 15, 2021

According to Swiss police, Alonso collided with a motorist outside a supermarket car park.

"The cantonal police report that yesterday [Thursday] just before 2pm in Viganello, a 42-year-old Swiss motorist domiciled in the Lugano area was driving in via La Santa in the direction of Pregassona,” the report said.

"According to an initial reconstruction and for reasons that the police investigation will have to establish, while making a left turn maneuver to enter a supermarket parking lot, there was a collision with a 39-year-old Spanish citizen, who was riding his bicycle, as he was passing the column of stationary vehicles in the opposite direction on the right.

"The collision occurred against the right side of the car. On the spot agents of the cantonal police intervened and, in support of the police of the city of Lugano as well as the rescuers of the Green Cross of Lugano who, after having given the first care to the cyclist, transported him by ambulance to the Hospital. The 39-year-old suffered a fractured jaw."