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| - Formula One's Alpine team announced on Thursday that two-time world champion Fernando Alonso had been involved in a road accident while cycling in Switzerland. The 39-year-old, who last won the title in 2006, is set to make his return to F1 with Alpine at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on March 28, after last racing in the sport three years ago. "Alpine F1 Team can confirm that Fernando Alonso has been involved in a road accident while cycling in Switzerland," they said. "Fernando is conscious and well in himself and is awaiting further medical examinations tomorrow (Friday) morning. "Alpine F1 Team will not make any further statement at this point in time. Further updates will be given tomorrow." Alonso joined the outfit, re-branded from Renault F1 by the French manufacturer for the coming campaign, after competing in the Indianapolis 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans races. According to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Alonso has suffered a fractured jaw, damage to his teeth and is in a hospital in Bern. The BBC reported that Alonso was hit by a car near his home in Lugano. Testing for the new season is taking place in the middle eastern country between March 12-14. "Just heard about my friend Fernando Alonso's accident, I wish him a speedy recovery," Yazeed Al-Rajhi, who raced against Alonso at the 2020 Dakar Rally, said on Twitter. "Sending our well wishes to @alo_oficial after being involved in a cycling accident," the British Racing Drivers' Club posted on the social media platform. Alonso, a winner of 32 grands prix who left F1 at the end of 2018, missed the start of the 2015 season with an injury, having to sit out the Australian Grand Prix with concussion. Frenchman Esteban Ocon, whose only F1 podium came at Sakhir last December, is Alonso's new team-mate at Alpine. iwd/jc
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