Young Tasmanian driver Alex Peroni is lucky to be alive after a horror smash at the Italian Grand Prix.

Key points: Peroni suffered a broken vertebra and says he will be "back in the car as soon as possible"

Peroni suffered a broken vertebra and says he will be "back in the car as soon as possible" Debate has begun about the placement of the "sausage kerb" which launched Peroni's car skywards

Debate has begun about the placement of the "sausage kerb" which launched Peroni's car skywards Tasmanian-born Peroni, 19, moved to Spain this year to race in the Formula 3 Championship

The Formula 3 driver was on the 20th lap when he hit a so-called "sausage kerb", sending his car somersaulting metres into the air, before it came crashing upside-down on a barrier.

Peroni's manager, David Quinn, said the 19-year-old fractured one of his vertebrae.

"His helmet and the HANS (head and neck support) device that goes around the neck and the halo on the car, they've obviously saved his life, it could have been far worse accident."

Peroni relocated to Spain from Hobart this year to race for Campos Racing in the 2019 FAI Formula 3 Championship.

It is unclear what the crash will mean for the rest of his season.

A stunned Peroni is escorted to a marshalling car after his F3 crash. ( www.formula1.com )

In a statement on Sunday, Peroni's team said they "pay tribute to all of those people that have lobbied for constant progress in relation to safety".

"Alex's life was saved by the halo, his helmet and the robust modern survival cell.

"Alex is currently in hospital and he has been immobilised until further scans are performed on his back on Sunday. His D6 vertebra has multiple fractures and the medical staff will decide tomorrow if it's necessary to operate. Alex is also recovering from concussion, with his helmet extensively damaged.

"As soon as possible, Alex will return to Tasmania to recover."

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Posting a picture of himself walking away from the wreckage of his car on Instagram, Peroni wrote: "That was a big one."

"Currently recovering in hospital with a broken vertebra," he wrote. "Not sure of the recovery time but hope to be back in the car as soon as possible.

"Thanks everyone for the messages and support I really appreciate it."

The crash comes just one week after French driver Anthoine Hubert died after a major accident during the Formula 2 feature race at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Mr Quinn said he did not believe it would change Peroni's dedication to the sport.

"It's like how they all had to deal with the death last week, they deal with it … it's what they do and what they want to do.

"It is what Alex has wanted to do since he was about four and what he's been doing since he's been seven, so it's that commitment to the love of motor sport."

The "sausage kerb" that caused the crash was placed on the track to stop drivers from gaining an advantage by running wide round the corner.

The practice for the Formula One was delayed for about 10 minutes while officials removed the damaged kerb.

"Obviously it was terrible for Alex, and terrible for each of us to watch but the good thing is that he is fine and he's currently in hospital and just waiting to get the final results of some tests," Mr Quinn said.

It is not the first time Peroni has had a scare on the track.

In 2017 while testing his car in Austria, Peroni came upon a family of ducks — while travelling at 177km/h.

"I avoided them by steering into the gravel. Some damage to the car but happy to report the ducks got safely to the other side," he wrote on his Facebook page at the time.