Alonso thanks FIA and McLaren for staying safe

The 2016 Australian Grand Prix will not be remembered for Nico Rosberg’s fourth consecutive victory, it will be remembered for Fernando Alonso’s hellacious crash.

On lap 17 of the Australian Grand Prix around the street circuit of Albert Park, Fernando Alonso crashed his McLaren Honda into the back of Esteban Gutierrez’s Haas.

The former two-time Formula One World Champion was preparing a move around the outside of the Mexican, but in a breaking zone the two collided.

Alonso’s McLaren immediately lost its front right wheel before ploughing into the wall, as the car slid across the tarmac and then grass and into the gravel trap the car dug in slightingly, flipping the car over and spectacularly barrel rolling in the air.

As gravity took over and the car lost momentum from around 200mph, it barrel rolled again from back to side, finally resting up against the wall.

But even before Esteban Gutierrez had exited his Haas, Alonso was already out of the car, bending over catching his breath to relief of everyone.

‘When you are rolling you want it to stop, but you feel it’s never stopping. Then when it stopped I saw a small hole to get out and I thought I’d get out quickly, because at home they’d want me to get out quickly [to know I was safe]. That’s the first thing I thought.’ Alonso told motorsport.com after the race.

If ever there was a time to show his character the following comments from Alonso summed the Spaniard up completely.

Whist his fellow mere mortals would have perhaps been considering their life choices of making a living in motorsport, Alonso was more concerned with losing one of his five Honda power-units for the rest of the 2016 Formula One World Championship season.

He continued: ‘I’m a bit disappointed for not having finished the race and for not scoring points, Also the wreck of the car is big and it means we’ve lost a power unit and we’ll use the second one right away. But apart from that frustration, I’m happy to be here talking to you.

‘Because when you are running at 300km/h, you are always risking your life. If in one of those rolls, you get the wrong hit, you have a serious problem. So I’m thankful and wishing to get back in the car again.’

Alonso later posted on Instagram: ‘I am aware that today I spent some of the luck remaining in life, I want to thank McLaren, the FIA for the safety on this cars. Also my colleagues and fans for the concern and unconditional support.’