Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Saturday, February 13.
Saturday morning's Formula 1 news roundup
Injured Alonso should be fit for Bahrain - doctor
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Fernando Alonso may be heading into surgery on Friday to repair a potentially broken jaw and teeth.
Alpine has confirmed alarming reports that the 39-year-old Spaniard was struck by a car on Thursday whilst road cycling near his home in Switzerland.
With the season opening Bahrain GP looming in March, the Enstone based team said Alonso is "conscious and well in himself" and will undergo further tests on Friday morning.
Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport says the two-time world champion never lost consciousness but may need surgery for a jaw fracture and tooth damage.
He will reportedly be transferred to a specialist hospital in Bern for the operation.
The Spanish sports daily Marca said doctors are optimistic that Alonso, whose injuries are reportedly "not serious", will be well enough for the start of official testing mid next month.
"If there is a mandibular fracture, the tests will be because they want to see if there is a displacement and whether to put a plate on it," a medical specialist, Dr Jose Gonzalez, is quoted by Spain's AS newspaper.
"If it really is a clean fracture, there should be no need for further testing. Either way, whatever it is, it is not a major injury.
"It can be said, with almost complete certainty, that he will be at the pre-season tests in Bahrain without any problems," Dr Gonzalez added.
Leclerc denies becoming 'arrogant'
© Reuters
Charles Leclerc has dismissed claims that a certain arrogance is beginning to creep into his personality.
The Ferrari driver's critics believe that as his former teammate and quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel struggled, 23-year-old Leclerc began to revel in his new status as de-facto Ferrari number 1.
"This criticism hits me more than other things that are said," the Monegasque told Sky Italia, "because I know very well that I have not changed."
Leclerc said observers may simply be noticing that he has become less open than before, but only because people treat him differently now that he is a Ferrari star.
"So yes I have changed closed some things, but that is not arrogance. I have not changed in that way," he insisted.
He said he was advised from an early stage in his Formula 1 career to not allow his status to change him.
"Everything in my career has been going pretty fast and in the right direction, but I've always kept that piece of advice in the back of my mind," said Leclerc.
"That's why the word arrogance bothers me so much."
More news from Formula 1:
Giovinazzi has 'hope' for better Ferrari engine
There is "hope" at Alfa Romeo that Ferrari's 2021 engine will deliver more power. Read more.
Saturday sprint race idea 'nice' - Giovinazzi
Plans for Saturday sprint races gained "broad support from all parties" during the videoconference meeting of the F1 Commission on Thursday. Read more.
Fernando Alonso undergoes successful operation on fractured jaw
Testing for the new campaign begins in Bahrain in only four weeks ahead of the first race. Read more.
FIA believes engine 'balance of power' unnecessary
Red Bull's plans to operate its own Honda-based engine program look set to proceed, as Formula 1 has announced that a development 'freeze' will indeed go ahead for 2022. Read more.
