Former F1 ace Alex Zanardi has returned to intensive care less than a week after it was reported the 53-year-old had been discharged from hospital to a specialist rehabilitation centre.
The two-time CART underwent three separate surgeries after sustaining serious injuries in a handbike crash while taking part in a relay race in his native Italy, where he was involved in a collision with a large vehicle.
His sedation was suspended to allow him to be transferred to the specialist clinic, but sadly Zanardi’s condition has reportedly worsened and has seen him returned to intensive care.
A statement by the health director or the Valduce Hospital confirmed Zanardi’s condition had taken a sudden worsening and he has been hospitalised in a “serious and unstable” condition.
Zanardi started 41 Grands Prix with a best career result being a sixth at the 1993 Brazilian GP with Lotus.
He went on to achieve back-to-back CART championships in America in 1997 and 1998 before returning for a one-off F1 season with Williams the following year.
Zanardi then had both his legs amputated in a crash at the Lausitzring CART round in 2001, but has since made an heroic return to competitive sport, claiming four Paralympic medals in hand-cycling.
