The Ferrari Formula 1 mechanic who suffered a broken leg after being hit by Kimi Raikkonen during a pitstop at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday has undergone successful surgery, as reported by the Italian media. Francesco Cigarini was attempting to fit a new left-rear tyre during the botched stop when he was hit by Raikkonen’s Ferrari after the Finn was mistakenly given the green light to leave his pit box.
The 2007 Formula One world champion subsequently pulled away but ran over Francesco Cigarini’s left leg, with the Scuderia Ferrari pitstop crew member suffering fractures to his shinbone and fibula. The Italian was rushed to Bahrain’s BDF Hospital and posted on Instragram from his hospital bed on Monday morning to provide an update that his surgery had gone well.
“The operation went well,” he wrote – “I want to thank all the people who asked about me and worried. Only a big thank you. Hugs.”
Kimi Raikkonen, who only joined the social media platform at the end of last year, commented: “Get well soon mate!”
Scuderia Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel went on to claim back-to-back victories for the Maranello team, while Kimi Raikkonen was forced into retirement for having a mix of two different compounds fitted to his Ferrari – which is against F1’s regulations. The Italian squad was fined €50,000 for the unsafe release and is currently investigating why its automated pitstop system told Kimi Raikkonen he could leave, despite not having all four wheels re-fitted.
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