McLaren expect Fernando Alonso to start F1 season in Australia

McLAREN expect Fernando Alonso to recover from Sunday’s crash in time to race in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 15.

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Fernando Alonso is missing this week's final pre-season test at Barcelona

The Spanish driver was released from a hospital in Barcelona on Wednesday having spent three days under observation after crashing his McLaren in pre-season testing in the Circuit de Catalunya.

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“I can categorically confirm that he has no lesion and that he wasn’t electrocuted,” said McLaren chairman Ron Dennis said in response to reports in Spanish newspaper El Mundo.

“There’s no sign that Alonso’s brain is damaged.

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Fernando Alonso leaves hospital

“Alonso is physically well and I see no reason why Fernando can’t be in Melbourne, but I’m not a doctor.”

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The 33-year-old double world champion hit the wall at turn three of the Barcelona-based circuit and McLaren believe the wind was a major factor in the crash.

“Fernando was unconscious for several seconds after impact,” said Dennis. “We could hear him breathing on the radio.

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“In previous laps, Alonso had mentioned that turn was a complicated one because the wind affected the car. Nothing hit him directly and the reason for losing consciousness was due to the strong deceleration that his head had to bear after the collision. There is no evidence that he lost consciousness before impact.”

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