Fernando Alonso will spend a second night in a Barcelona hospital after the crash that brought McLaren's pre-season test plans to a juddering halt.
A bulletin from McLaren 24 hours after the accident at the Circuit de Catalunya Grand Prix circuit attempted to quell the intrigue that had exploded overnight on the social media. There was wild speculation that Alonso had passed out or even been electrocuted. McLaren, though, ruled out any faults with their new car after an early investigation.
Although Alonso was reported to be driving at up to 150mph, it seems his car veered sideways into the wall. McLaren said that high winds were to blame, citing a similar crash later in the day involving the Toro Rosso of Carlos Sainz Jr.
Sainz was not sent to hospital, though. An ambulance crew found Alonso conscious and talking but he was sent by helicopter for tests. A CT brain scan and an MRI scan have revealed no lasting damage but it seems doctors wanted to keep the two-time world champion for another day after it was confirmed he had suffered concussion.
McLaren said that Alonso, 33, was making a solid recovery in hospital and the Spaniard was photographed giving his fans the thumbs up sign that all was well.
The McLaren statement added: "To provide the privacy and tranquillity required to facilitate a peaceful recuperation, he is being kept in hospital for further observation and to recover from the effects of the medication that successfully managed his routine sedation yesterday."
The question now is whether Alonso will be able to take part in the final pre-season test, which starts on Thursday at the Circuit de Catalunya. Formula One has strict rules about drivers returning after any type of head injury and it may be that Alonso will have to sit out the last four days allocated for shaking down F1's 2015 machines.
"We intend to give [Alonso] every opportunity to make a rapid and complete recovery and will evaluate in due course whether or not he will participate in the next Barcelona test," McLaren added.
The team were adamant that there was no failure of the McLaren car, with its new Honda power pack. They have checked data and telemetry and found no faults.
"Even at this early stage, we have been able to reach some firm conclusions," McLaren said. "[Alonso's] car ran wide at the entry to turn three, which is a fast uphill right-hander, allowing it to run onto the Astroturf that lines the outside of the track. A consequent loss of traction caused a degree of instability, spitting it back towards the inside of the circuit, where it regained traction and struck the wall side-on.
"Our findings indicate that the accident was caused by the unpredictably gusty winds at that part of the circuit at that time, and which had affected other drivers similarly (eg, Carlos Sainz Jr). 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."
