Sport

Fernando Alonso makes F1 comeback with titanium plates in his jaw

Mercedes struggle again as Lewis Hamilton spins in Bahrain testing

Fernando Alonso of Spain and Alpine F1 Team during day two of F1 testing in Bahrain. Photograph: Getty Images

Sat Mar 13 2021 - 12:04

Lewis Hamilton’s pre-season preparations hit another bump in the road after the world champion spun on the second day of testing.

The controversial Bahrain Grand Prix kicks off the new season on March 28th.

Hamilton's Mercedes team missed the majority of Friday's morning session in Bahrain following a gearbox failure. And, after team principal Toto Wolff said the sport's all-conquering team could ill-afford any further setbacks, Hamilton lost further valuable time after he beached his Mercedes in the gravel.

Hamilton lost control of his car through the right-handed turn 13 and spun into the sand. Hamilton’s accident saw the session stopped as his Mercedes was taken back to the garage on a truck.

READ MORE

The 36-year-old, who is this season bidding to win an unprecedented eighth world championship, later returned to the circuit to complete 58 laps.

But Hamilton finished only eighth of the 10 runners, 1.184 seconds off the pace. Daniel Ricciardo continued McLaren's encouraging pre-season form by heading the time charts.

The Australian finished 0.124 seconds ahead of the returning Fernando Alonso.

Alonso is back on the grid following a two-year hiatus and his running in Bahrain was his first in a Formula One car since he suffered a fractured jaw in a road cycling accident last month. He will make his comeback this season with titanium plates in his jaw. The double world champion had the plates inserted after the cycling accident in February.

The Spaniard says it will not impact his comfort within a Formula 1 car, even if he still requires further surgery at the end of the season. The 39 year-old, showed few signs of rustiness as he completed a solid 59 laps for his Alpine team.

Red Bull newcomer Sergio Perez finished third, while there was trouble for Aston Martin as a gearbox failure restricted four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel to only nine laps.

LATEST STORIES