Alexander BONDAREV: “The Russian’s car hit my back and helmet”

karting driver Alexander BondarevThe pilot, who has the potential to become the first Ukrainian pilot in Formula 1, talked about his accident last year and joining the professional racing academy Williams Racing.

“Last year there was an accident during the second stage of the European Championship in Spain. I was in eighth place trying to get to the podium. The opponent’s go-kart, Russian Dmitry Matveev, hit my front bumper, then hit my back and helmet. My kart spun 180 degrees in the middle of the track towards the oncoming traffic of other karts in the peloton. One of the drivers unfortunately failed to pass as the previous seven drivers had done, causing a head-on collision between the two karts. The race was stopped and I received medical attention. I had my first surgery on the same day at the hospital closest to the track.

Ten more operations took place within two months. The hardest were the race weekends when I couldn’t attend, but I watched the races, analyzed my competitors and imagined what I would do in their shoes. I didn’t want to lose my athletic shape, so while I was already in the hospital, I adapted my training to my current situation. These were mostly upper body exercises. I stayed in the hospital for three months, went into rehab for three months, and was back on the track six months later. I could still walk with a limp, but I pressed the pedals hard. I tried to speed up my return to the track every day because life without racing was extremely boring and meaningless.

How did the Williams Racing Formula 1 team take care of me? It was a very long journey. But I know that every pilot dreams of such a chance. The academies of Formula 1 teams such as Williams, Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren and Alpine open their doors to the drivers they choose and provide them with a new level in every aspect. And most importantly, the chance to take part in Formula 1 one day. “It turned out that they had been following me for a while, but my victory at the European Championship this year was decisive for them.”