'I'll miss you, every day': Fernando Alonso pays tribute to long-serving F1 physiotherapist
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso has paid tribute on social media to his long-serving physiotherapist Fabrizio Borra who died on Sunday night.
Borra worked with Alonso from his debut with Minardi in 2001. He followed the two-time world champion through his career in teams McLaren, Ferrari, Alpine and Aston Martin.
Alonso posted on his Instagram page to publicly thank and pay tribute to his late trainer, with condolences being sent to the 64-year-old's family from the sport's wider community.
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"I'll miss you, Fabri. Every day," Alonso wrote in his Instagram post.
"Thank you for teaching me so much and making me a better person and athlete.
"My whole career with you has been the greatest good fortune I could have. ❤️
"Rest in peace, brother.❤️"
Borra was a familiar face in the Formula 1 paddock, not only working with Alonso but seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.
He assisted the Ferrari driver's recovery after he broke his leg at the 1999 British Grand Prix and forged a deep professional bond with the F1 great.
Schumacher would go on after that season to take the next five F1 world championships from 2000 to 2004.
Borra worked in other sport categories, the Italian physiotherapist working with athletes such as MotoGP rider Andrea Dovizioso and cyclist Marco Pantani.
It was reported by Italian media that Borra died in the Italian city of Forli after a year-long battle with cancer.
Borra only stopped following the F1 circus after last season to look after his declining health and was well-regarded in the paddock as one of the most sought-after Italian physios.
McLaren Mercedes Team Principal Ron Dennis (right) is pictured next to Fernando Alonso's trainer Fabrizio Borra (left) during the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix Qualifying Session. Getty
He was last seen at F1 in Monza last year.
The Italian is well remembered by the infamous moment in Alonso's career at the 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix when then-McLaren team principal Ron Dennis had a tense intervention with Alonso's pit wall representatives, including Borra.
During qualifying, Alonso held up teammate Lewis Hamilton in the pit lane which caused the Spaniard to collect a five-second grid penalty.
The stewards decided the McLaren team would not be presented with points or a trophy if they won the race due to the incident.
