Formula 1 driver Alex Alban has been hospitalized following appendectomy for respiratory failure
“Alex Alban was re-intubated also transferred to intensive care for support,” the Williams Racing team said in a statement Monday.
Formula 1 driver Alex Albon has been hospitalize in Italy with complications following appendicitis surgery.
His team, Williams Racing, released a statement on their website on Monday to nourish an update on Albon’s health.
After existing beexisting ing diagnosed with appendicitis. The 26-year-old athlete underwent laparoscopic surgery on Saturday, which his team said was successful. Following surgery, “Alex suffered from unexpected postoperative anesthetic complications. Which resulted in respiratory failure, a known but rare complication,” said Williams Racing. “He was re-intubate also transfer to intensive care for support.”
Albon made “excellent progress overnight” and “could be weaned from mechanical ventilation by Sunday morning,” according to a statement from his team. They added that he was transfer to a general ward and was expect to return home on Tuesday.
For now, his team said he would focus on “recovery and preparation ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix later this month”.
Williams Racing did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further comment. On Saturday, Albon announced that he would not take part in Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix due to health reasons.
“Appendectomy, surgery and no racing was not what I expect this weekend!” he wrote on Twitter.
For the race in Monza, Italy, Albon was replace by Dutchman Nick de Vries, who finish ninth, reports ESPN.
Albon, a Thai-British driver from London, made his F1 debut in 2019 as part of Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri), one of two Red Bull racing teams. After an impressive performance, Albon replaced driver Pierre Gasly in their Red Bull Racing team. Placing him alongside future F1 champion Max Verstappen.
He also drives for the German Touring Car Masters, a major touring car series based in Germany and Europe. Alban signed Williams last September.