Formula 1 driver Alex Albon has thanked medical staff after he suffered respiratory failure and was left on a ventilator following complications from surgery.

The former Nayland schoolboy was ruled out of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza with appendicitis, before being transferred to nearby San Gerardo Hospital for treatment.

The Williams driver, who went to Littlegarth School, underwent surgery, but then ended up in intensive care and required assistance with breathing.

But Albon was removed from mechanical ventilation on Sunday, September 11, before being given the green light to leave hospital and travel back to his home in Monaco last Tuesday.

London-born Albon, who races under the Thai flag because of his mother Kankamol’s nationality took part in practice in Monza on the Friday.

But he fell unwell on the Saturday morning and was replaced by the team’s reserve driver and Formula E champion Nyck de Vries.

In a message to his fans on Twitter he said: “I feel pretty good, I feel ok. I had a slight issue and the doctors did an amazing job.

“I am very grateful that they got me in good health and out of the hospital by Tuesday.

 

“I have been in Monaco since then, been starting to walk around and the goal is to be ready for Singapore, which is going to be tough. It is one of the toughest races that we go to. It is not an easy one but let’s aim high and see what happens.

“And a quick message to say thank you for the kind messages, I have been reading them all – as many as I can – and it means a lot.”

Albon, 26, is hopeful of returning to his Williams cockpit for the next round in Singapore on October 2.