Fernando Alonso crash: McLaren driver airlifted to hospital for medical investigations

Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso has escaped serious injury from a heavy crash in pre-season testing.

Fernando Alonso hit the wall on the exit of the 150mph Turn Three at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, one of F1’s most demanding corners.

McLaren said results of hospital scans showed Fernando Alonso was concussed but otherwise uninjured.

Fernando Alonso’s crash happened at 12:35 local time on February 22, shortly before the lunch break on the final day of the second of three pre-season tests.

The McLaren driver was airlifted to hospital where CT and MRI scans were carried out.

McLaren – who have given no information on what caused the accident – said Fernando Alonso “left the track at Turn Three, causing the right-hand side of his car to strike the wall” on the inside of the circuit. It is unclear whether Alonso made a mistake or something broke on the car.

His team-mate Jenson Button had been scheduled to take the car over for the afternoon session, but the team decided not to run again.

Fernando Alonso is regarded within F1 as arguably the greatest driver of his generation and has won 32 races in a 13-year career, putting him sixth on the all-time list.