Alonso remains hospitalised

Fernando Alonso has remained in hospital following his crash on the final day of the second winter test session.

Alonso was airlifted to hospital following a heavy crash after the two-time Formula One World Champion hit the wall on the inside of the Catalunya track between Turns 3 and 4.

After being treated on track next to his stricken McLaren Honda, Alonso was firstly taken to the circuit’s medical centre and later transferred to hospital by helicopter for further checks.

Those checks involved CT scans and MRI scans, all of which were completely normal.

However despite being given an apparent clear bill of health he has been kept in hospital for further observation.

It is not yet clear if Fernando Alonso will be able to take part in the final winter test session in Barcelona.

Meanwhile McLaren Honda have begun an investigation into what caused the crash, using the cars associated telemetry data.

McLaren have released a statement on their website, declaring that the cause of the incident was ‘unpredictably gusty winds’ and pointed towards the fact that Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz also suffered a similar incident.

McLaren also made comment on the fact that the incident was not caused by any technical problems, with rumours suggesting that Alonso could have been unconscious in the build up to the crash.

‘We can categorically state that there is no evidence that indicates that Fernando?s car suffered mechanical failure of any kind. We can also confirm that absolutely no loss of aerodynamic pressure was recorded, which fact indicates that the car did not suffer any aerodynamic loss, despite the fact that it was subjected to a significant level of g-force. Finally, we can also disclose that no electrical discharge or irregularity of any kind occurred in the car?s ERS system, either before, during or after the incident.

‘That last point refutes the erroneous rumours that have spread recently to the effect that Fernando was rendered unconscious by an electrical fault. That is simply not true. Our data clearly shows that he was downshifting while applying full brake pressure right up to the moment of the first impact ? something that clearly would not have been possible had he been unconscious at the time.

‘Our data also confirms that Fernando?s car struck the inside concrete wall, first with its front-right wheel and then with its rear-right. It was a significant lateral impact, resulting in damage to the front upright and axle.

McLaren ended their statement by wishing Fernando Alonso ‘a very speedy recovery’, something which the entire Formula One community echoes.