Fernando Alonso's doctors have advised him to sit out the season opening Australian Grand Prix next week.

Having performed an exhaustive series of tests and scans - some of them as recently as yesterday evening - Alonso's doctors have informed him that they find him asymptomatic of any medical issue; that they see no evidence whatsoever of any injury; and that they therefore describe him as entirely healthy from neurological and cardiac perspectives alike.

However, his doctors have recommended to him that, following the concussion he sustained in the testing accident at the Barcelona, for the time being he should seek to limit as far as is possible any environmental risk factors that could potentially result in his sustaining another concussion so soon after his previous one, so as to minimise the chances of second impact syndrome, as is normal medical procedure when treating athletes after concussions.

In order to limit those environmental risk factors, specifically, his doctors have advised that he should not compete in the imminent Australian Grand Prix meeting, which will take place on March 15th.

Alonso has understood and accepted that advice, and the two McLaren-Honda cars will therefore be driven in Australia by Fernando's team-mate Jenson Button and the team's test and reserve driver Kevin Magnussen.

Alonso's doctors acknowledge that he feels fit and well, and that he regards himself as ready to race, and, that being the case, they are comfortable with the fact that he has already recommenced physical training, with a view to preparing for a return to the cockpit of his McLaren-Honda car for the Malaysian Grand Prix meeting on March 27th, 28th and 29th. Indeed, his doctors are supportive of that ambition, satisfied as they are that he sustained no damage whatsoever during his testing accident on February 22nd.

According to the team, all at McLaren-Honda fully support Fernando's decision in respect of his doctors' advice.

LATEST NEWS

more news >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Hondawho?, 06/03/2015 15:21

"1. Posted by Jonno, 05/03/2015 12:43
"Well, Hondawho?, I do have a long memory

Fair comment but due to various reasons Snr Dennis was not in charge, the weak Martin Whitmarsh was there so its not fair I think to say "when a better organised team would have won race after race with the Mercedes engine".

The rot starts at the top and, as a nice man that was Martin Whitmarsh, he was not strong or evil enough to win at F1.

You need to be certain breed, and the Brits cannot seem to do it until their back are against the wall and being paid millions to fail is not really a good way to carry on, as indeed it has not turned out that way. Where is Mr Whitmarsh these days?"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by Jonno, 05/03/2015 12:43

"Well, Hondawho?, I do have a long memory - but I can't remember the last time McLaren won a WCC. It must be a generation ago. What I do remember is season after season of errors from them. Seasons when a better organised team would have won race after race with the Mercedes engine, but they never achieved any long period of success.
I don't see that changing anytime soon."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by Hondawho?, 05/03/2015 7:54

"In respect to and for McLaren, they will win through, which ever driver is driving the car.

The package will end up being one of the best, if not THE best on the grid. Oh people with short memories consider how unreliable the Ilmor/Mercedes was when it was first placed inside a McLaren!

Fred has a personal issue, he is not getting any younger almost an OAP and the car is a baby in growing up terms!

Jenson could be there for the duration or until the car came good and then "Ron " will look after him for being so "on side"....... be interesting to watch Jenson's (mature) attitude, body language and overall communication as to how he is feeling, that will tell you how good the car is or is not and that would have been explained to him and into contract I am sure before he signed, or in fact why he was signed :-)"

Rating: Negative (-2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

4. Posted by Hondawho?, 05/03/2015 7:46

"Needed a spark to get him going............ he would be better off in Formula E, you never know if Snr Briatore goes to Formula E he may go as well."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

5. Posted by Jonno, 04/03/2015 21:52

"What's this about Fred receiving a huge electric shock up the backside before, after, during his accident?"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

6. Posted by F1 Yank, 04/03/2015 18:35

"That amount of lateral gs that ALO sustained can shake anyone up. With the new perspective on concussions from the NFL and other entities I would tend to be more conservative with ALO. The UFC even mandates their fighters take weeks off before another fight through "mandated or medical suspensions". McLaren and Honda are totally aware that they are building a "package". They are both very good and hopefully will achieve their step program goals. I am fascinated with this. They went from not running a lap to 6 laps to 20, to 45 and so on. It will be interesting to see their improvement throughout the season."

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

7. Posted by Editor, 04/03/2015 17:47

"@Spindoctor

No inside knowledge… then again, it’s not as if Fernando has any possible experience of people deliberately crashing their F1 cars…."

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

8. Posted by Spindoctor, 04/03/2015 17:28

"@Chris Balfe
I bow to your expertise and inside knowledge! :-)"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

9. Posted by Editor, 04/03/2015 17:04

"It was the Reverend Ron at Turn 3 with the mighty bellows"

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

10. Posted by Spindoctor, 04/03/2015 16:19

"It really was Dot Cotton what done for 'im!

I'm prepared, maybe even expecting to be proven wrong, but I'll take all this at nearly face value.

I've never "enjoyed" a 30g crash, nor been rendered unconscious as a consequence of a crash, but assuming that 'Nando & his quacks aren't telling porkies, then Safety First sounds like a good motto.

As to the speculation about him ducking-out of a dreadful car - he's been at Ferrari in a real dog for years, and stuck with it.
He's not a sympathetic character, but not stupid either. Surely he'll have guessed the McLaren-Honda would not be THAT fast, at least at first, so I doubt that's the reason for his non-participation.

The idea that there's something dangerously "wrong" with the car seems equally implausible, especially in these litigious times.
I don't think either Button nor Magnusson has a death-wish, and given their access to the relevant data it's unlikely they'd carry on if the car wasn't "safe".

So I stick with Dot Cotton, in the library with the poker, though maybe it was Ron....."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

11. Posted by karel, 04/03/2015 7:32

"I don't understand this, FA is not the man to lay down on doctors advice"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

12. Posted by Paul C, 04/03/2015 4:52

"Ron Dennis will be chuckling if young Kevin outraces Jenson Button. Alonso will be wondering if the car works for Magnussen."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

13. Posted by petes, 04/03/2015 3:47

"Now I understand Marybeth (I think).
Something like the knock on the noggin realigned the stars in his head and now his seeing it like it is?......."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

14. Posted by Marybeth, 03/03/2015 23:56

"& I repeat myself from last week...."FA realizes what a hopeless turkey this car is & this mysterious head injury is his ticket out...." "

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

15. Posted by kiwi2wheels, 03/03/2015 23:42

"@ nonickname, re your comment " I don't think that any you have hit a wall, going sideways at 134 mph.It is reported to have generated 30g's and in a direction that is not the norm "

How come the wheels were still on it and the body structure between the wheels was undamaged ? I've seen more than a few cars from the CART era that have hit the wall on ovals and that doesn't ring true. And impacts hard enough to tear the engine off the tub. Those cars didn't have the same head protection as today's F1 but even then a driver wasn't out for 17 days after a FIRST concussion."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Alonso to miss season opener in Australia

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page