Featured Image Credit: F1 / Jelena Dokic/Instagram / Getty
Topics: Fernando Alonso, Formula 1, Australia
Ryan Smart
Topics: Fernando Alonso, Formula 1, Australia
Fernando Alonso inadvertently injured former Australian tennis star Jelena Dokic during a practice session for this weekend's Australian Grand Prix.
Alonso qualified his Aston Martin in 10th position for the race at Albert Park, but the final session didn't go to plan for the Spaniard.
Heading into turn 6 on his first flying lap, Alonso had to correct a major slide, resulting in his car taking a trip through the gravel trap.
The incident damaged his car's floor, meaning Aston Martin mechanics had to act quickly to repair the car in time to send it back out onto the circuit.
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Alonso effectively got one more flying lap in, which wasn't enough for him to trouble any of the pacesetters in Melbourne.
But it was a separate incident in practice that actually caused a small injury to former tennis star Dokic.
Alonso ran wide out of turn 10 and ended up in the gravel, with his car shooting debris up towards the spectators.
And Dokic, who reached the semi-final of Wimbledon aged just 17 in 2000 and reached a high world ranking of four, took to Instagram after qualifying had ended to reveal she had suffered a 'bloodshot and scratched' eye.
The 40-year-old, who is now a tennis commentator, wrote: "When you go to the Formula One weekend at the Australian Grand Prix and a car going off track happens right in front of you, literally, and all the rock debris flies right into your eyes.
"Fernando Alonso ran off the track and the rock debris that you see flying off the back wheels went straight into my right eye.
"Had to get treated for it but all good."
She also posted a video, which showed her receiving eye drops from a syringe (in case you want to scroll further down).
Thankfully for the Australian, though, the eye injury was to be the extent of the damage - and she added that she had received 'amazing and quick' treatment from a paramedic in the Mercedes lounge.
"Thank you all that took care of me," she concluded. "I am all good. Ready to watch some more F1."