The Williams Formula One team has announced that Alexander Albon has stopped breathing after his appendectomy and the Thai driver has had to spend some time in intensive care.
Albon fell ill on Saturday morning and had to sit out the rest of the Italian Grand Prix weekend. His Williams seat was taken by reserve driver Nyck de Vries, who scored two points for Williams on his Formula 1 debut with a ninth place.
Williams announced on Monday that Albon suffered “complications that resulted in respiratory arrest” following the procedure, requiring him to be re-intubated and transferred to the intensive care unit at San Gerardo Hospital.
Albon is expected to be discharged from the hospital on Tuesday
After his condition improved overnight, Albon was transferred back to a general care ward on Sunday and is expected to be discharged from hospital on Tuesday.
“After being diagnosed with appendicitis on Saturday morning, September 10, Alex Albon was admitted to the San Gerardo Hospital for treatment. He underwent a successful laparoscopic surgery Saturday noon,” Williams said in a statement.
“Following the surgery, Alex suffered unexpected post-operative anesthetic complications that led to respiratory failure – a known but rare complication. He was re-intubated and transferred to the ICU for support.”
“He made excellent progress overnight and was taken off mechanical ventilation yesterday morning. He has now been transferred to a general ward and is expected to be able to [am Dienstag] return home. There were no further complications.”
Will Albon make it to the Singapore Grand Prix?
The team add that Albon is still hoping to return for the Singapore Grand Prix in the last weekend of September: “Alex is fully focused on recovery and preparing for the Singapore Grand Prix later in the month.”
“Alex would like to thank him for the excellent care and support he has received, including from the nursing, anesthesia and intensive care teams at San Gerardo Hospital – ASST Monza, the FIA medical team, his performance coach Patrick Harding, the Williams Racing Team and Dr. Luke Bennett from HINTSA Performance.”
Nyck De Vries, Albon’s reserve at Monza, will be available on call in Singapore should Albon not be able to start after all. The race in Singapore is considered to be the most physically demanding of the season because of the sweltering heat and the enormous race duration of almost two hours.