A cloud is now hanging over Fernando Alonso’s return to action in Malaysia in two weeks.
Sunday’s Australian grand prix marks precisely 21 days since his unexplained Barcelona testing crash — the precautionary timeframe given by McLaren-Honda for concussion. So the fact Alonso could now miss Malaysia will ramp up already widespread speculation about the mysterious incident.
What is clear is that the 33-year-old is obviously feeling fit and well, as he has confirmed his return to physical training, including gym work, swimming and running in Dubai, where he lives. And as the F1 circus runs around Albert Park, Alonso posted to Youtube a video showing that his mind is once again razor sharp, as he works on a reaction-time machine.
McLaren insists nothing failed on Alonso’s MP4-30 in Barcelona, but the British team also says its star driver has passed every medical test since the crash. So, team boss Eric Boullier on Friday caused brows to furrow when, pressed for information about Alonso’s medical situation, he said that is “personal”. “Nobody has access to the medical files except the doctors,” said the Frenchman.
He told France’s RMC Sport that Alonso will undergo more medical exams next week, but the final call will be down to the Spaniard and the “FIA doctors”. Boullier also admitted: “We still don’t know all the causes of the accident. We do know that he is well and that the car is fine. “There are no problems on the car but there are still some grey areas to clarify.”
