Francesco Cigarini has posted a video on social media, showing the Ferrari mechanic is recovering well from his pitlane accident on Sunday. Cigarini was one of Kimi Raikkonen’s wheel change mechanics during the Finn’s second stop in Sunday’s race. However, Cigarini was poised and waiting with a new Pirelli SuperSoft to fit on to the left rear of Kimi’s SF71H car when the Finnish driver was shown the green light to go. With the old wheel still in place, the 2007 Formula One world champion peeled out of his pitbox.
Francesco Cigarini’s positioning in front of the wheel meant that he was directly in the line of fire and was knocked to the ground. Graphic images showed that the collision had not been a light one, with the power applied to Cigarini’s leg immediately forcing the team to seek medical attention for their stricken team member. Brought to hospital, the Italian has since posted a picture of himself sitting in bed with a cast on his leg, before a post on Monday evening showing him up and walking, although still not putting his full weight on the leg.
He has a confirmed shinbone and fibula fracture, according to the Maranello team. Kimi Raikkonen, who was forced to retire from the race, wished his team member well on Instagram. Speaking after the race, the Finn said: “I feel sorry for him and hope he’s going to be OK soon. It’s always a bad thing when someone gets injured but I am sure he has the best people taking good care of him and I wish him a speedy recovery. As for the accident itself, all I know is that I moved when I saw the green light go on. I couldn’t have possibly realized that there was an issue with the rear left wheel, then I saw someone had got hurt and, immediately, I was told to stop by the team.”
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