Sauber's Jean Alesi was slightly injured today, when he crashed during the first Saturday free practice session. Alesi taken by helicopter to a near-by hospital in Budapest where he was examined by local doctors and an FIA medical officer. He was released back to the track during the second practice session, returning to the pits with a heavy bandage on his right foot.

A spokesman of the Sauber team said that Alesi was complaining of pain in his right ankle but they hope to see him cleared for today's qualifying session. The FIA doctor who examined him said: "He has been taken to hospital in Budapest for a precautionary X-ray, but we don't think anything is broken."

Alesi crashed heavily when he came out of the hairpin after the pit straight to find himself behind the Arrows car of Pedro de la Rosa, who was driving very slowly on the racing line. In order to avoid crashing into the back of de la Rosa, Alesi broke sideways and crashed into the wall barrier. The front of his car was smashed, his front wheel ripped off.