Formula One: Fernando Alonso out of Bahrain Grand Prix After Terrible Crash in Melbourne
Spanish Formula One racing star Fernando Alonso is not going to be part of the McLaren team for the Bahrain Grand Prix after race officials declined to give him medical clearance after a horrible crash to which he was involved in during the season opener in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix. If he does not show progress, he even might be out for the Chinese Grand Prix as well.
The 34-year old driver disclosed that he is suffering from broken ribs and lung injury as a direct result of the crash. This means that his team, McLaren, will have to find someone else to fill in for him. According to The Guardian, that opportunity will be given to reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne. If the plan pushes through, the Belgian driver will be making his debut on Sunday.
Alonso is a three-time winner of this leg and losing him in one of the places he usually performs well is a huge blow for McLaren. In Melbourne, he was driving at 200 mph when he accidentally collided with the car of Esteban Gutierrez, causing his own vehicle to roll twice before taking a halt into a track wall. What remained was a wreck, but surprisingly, the Spaniard came out of it all on his own.
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Unfortunately, his minor injuries haven't healed in time for him to be able to compete for the Bahrain edition, a race he won back in 2005, 2006, and 2010. According to him, the decision by FIA, motorsports' governing, is more on the aspect of avoiding the possible risks. "I understand, and to minimize everything is the logical thing. It's a little bit sad but it's the only way to go," he said.
The McLaren-Honda driver also mentioned that he felt some pain in his knee last week but he didn't thought it was serious. He in fact was given the go by team doctors to leave the track and assumed that everything was fine.
