Alonso 'should be fine' for Melbourne - Dennis

He was in hospital for four days, and is absent at the final winter test in Barcelona, but Fernando Alonso is "categorically not injured". That was the insistence on Thursday of McLaren supremo Ron Dennis, who at the Circuit de Catalunya addressed the ranks of international media following the controversy and conspiracy theories in the wake of Alonso's crash last Sunday.

It was the length of the Spaniard's hospitalisation, and the fact he is still being barred from driving, that has put McLaren-Honda under the spotlight after the team dismissed a "normal" accident and insisted its star 33-year-old driver was not at all hurt. What followed was an explosion of speculation, causing fans and reporters to wonder whether Honda's new technology had electrocuted Alonso, rendering him unconscious before he hit the wall on the final day of last week's test.

After Alonso's four days in hospital, however, Dennis told reporters that Alonso "wanted to test" this week, "but doctors have told him he needs to rest". "They wanted to make sure everything was perfect before he was discharged. He's pushing very hard to get in the car," Dennis added. "Doctors are saying no. All he wants to do at the moment is race and test." He said Alonso "should be fine" for the Melbourne season opener in two weeks.

Dennis admitted that Alonso was briefly knocked out in the crash but only for "a few seconds", and that "head injuries have taken centre stage at the moment. People are super-careful." But he insisted: "(There was) categorically no injury, no electric shock, no car failure. He's not even concussed."

Dennis denied there is any more to the story, saying McLaren is "trying to be transparent" and insisting nothing is being "concealed". He also said that, before crashing, Alonso had told the team that driving through turn 3 was difficult because of the wind. (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 628
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 194
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (44)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar