Alonso to miss first race

http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/inside-the-mtc/fernando-alonso-a-medical-update/

Having performed an exhaustive series of tests and scans – some of them as recently as yesterday evening – McLaren-Honda driver Fernando Alonso’s doctors have informed him that they find him asymptomatic of any medical issue; that they see no evidence whatsoever of any injury; and that they therefore describe him as entirely healthy from neurological and cardiac perspectives alike.

However, Fernando’s doctors have recommended to him that, following the concussion he sustained in a testing accident at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on February 22nd, for the time being he should seek to limit as far as is possible any environmental risk factors that could potentially result in his sustaining another concussion so soon after his previous one, so as to minimise the chances of second impact syndrome, as is normal medical procedure when treating athletes after concussions.

In order to limit those environmental risk factors, specifically, his doctors have advised that he should not compete in the imminent Australian Grand Prix meeting, which will take place on March 13th, 14th and 15th.

Fernando has understood and accepted that advice, and the two McLaren-Honda cars will therefore be driven in Australia by Fernando’s team-mate Jenson Button and the team’s test and reserve driver Kevin Magnussen.

Fernando’s doctors acknowledge that he feels fit and well, and that he regards himself as ready to race, and, that being the case, they are comfortable with the fact that he has already recommenced physical training, with a view to preparing for a return to the cockpit of his McLaren-Honda car for the Malaysian Grand Prix meeting on March 27th, 28th and 29th. Indeed, his doctors are supportive of that ambition, satisfied as they are that he sustained no damage whatsoever during his testing accident on February 22nd.

All at McLaren-Honda fully support Fernando’s decision in respect of his doctors’ advice.

 

Something is seriously up! Get well soon Fernando, hope it's something fixable :/

 

almost not worth getting up for now.....

this also confirms KMag wont be driving the 2nd Manor.

 

I can understand the decision, they can't take the risk of another crash and concussion.

 

Seems that Spanish publication El Mundo is reporting that in fact Fernando may have refused to drive the MP4-30 until the FIA investigation has taken place into the incident.

 

Sorry, 3 weeks is normally more than enough to recover from a concussion, especially one that is being played down as minor by Alonso and McLaren.

Something smells fishy here. Wonder if Alonso ends up taking the sabbatical he had considered this year, by 'mutual consent' with McLaren.

He knows he will be racing outside the top 10, has he still got the heart to do it, especially as it is likely if the car ever did do a race distance, he is probably likely to be lapped by the team he just left?

 

This story has a interesting back story. Theres a clear divide now in journalism. Theres those who toe the corporate line (god forbid they lose their paddock pass), those who question everything (the good kind), and of course the OTT conspiracy lot.

It's shocking how many journalists are simply just teams PR departments, whats the point of them, might as well just read the teams media releases.

 

Isn't 1 month avoiding dangerous situations standard practice for concussion?

 

It is, but according to McLaren he is "asymptomatic of any medical issue; that they see no evidence whatsoever of any injury; and that they therefore describe him as entirely healthy from neurological and cardiac perspectives alike."

But yet he has a concussion. Their own press release makes no sense. I wouldn't be surprised if it gets pulled by the end of the day.

 

Fernando Alonso will miss the Australian GP following his crash at Barcelona
Doctors advise Spaniard to 'minimise chances of suffering another concussion'; Kevin Magnussen to stand in for two-time champ alongside Jenson Button
By William Esler. Last Updated: 03/03/15 1:03pm

McLaren’s Fernando Alonso will miss the Australian Grand Prix following his crash during the second pre-season test in Barcelona.

Kevin Magnussen, who Alonso has replaced for the 2015 season, will partner Jenson Button in Melbourne.

Alonso has been ruled out on medical advice but McLaren remain confident that the two-time world champion will return for the Malaysia GP at the end of March.

In a statement, the team confirmed doctors had advised Alonso not to drive in the season-opening race ‘to minimise the chances of second impact syndrome, as is normal medical procedure when treating athletes after concussions’.

However, according to McLaren, Alonso's doctors have detected 'no evidence whatsoever of any injury' and permitted the 33-year-old to resume training.

Alonso was rendered unconscious during his accident at the Circuit de Catalunya on February 22 when he lost control of his MP4-30 car and struck the track wall at high speed.

McLaren later attributed the accident to an unpredictable 'gust of wind'.

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Fernando Alonso crashes during testing at Barcelona

Magnussen drove the MP4-30 for the first time when he deputised for Alonso on Day Three of the final pre-season test at the Circuit de Catalyuna. Speaking on Saturday after 39 laps in the car, the Dane admitted it would be tough to step in for Melbourne.

“It would be difficult because I don’t really have my own team and set of engineers to talk to all winter and have kind of been on the sideline a little bit," Magnussen explained.

"I’ve obviously followed everything that was going on, but it is different when you have your own team and can go there every day and work with them. It would be difficult, but if I have to I will be happy to do it.”

McLaren statement in full:

'Having performed an exhaustive series of tests and scans – some of them as recently as yesterday evening – McLaren-Honda driver Fernando Alonso’s doctors have informed him that they find him asymptomatic of any medical issue; that they see no evidence whatsoever of any injury; and that they therefore describe him as entirely healthy from neurological and cardiac perspectives alike.

'However, Fernando’s doctors have recommended to him that, following the concussion he sustained in a testing accident at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on February 22nd, for the time being he should seek to limit as far as is possible any environmental risk factors that could potentially result in his sustaining another concussion so soon after his previous one, so as to minimise the chances of second impact syndrome, as is normal medical procedure when treating athletes after concussions.

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Fernando Alonso receives medical assistance after his accident

'In order to limit those environmental risk factors, specifically, his doctors have advised that he should not compete in the imminent Australian Grand Prix meeting, which will take place on March 13th, 14th and 15th.

'Fernando has understood and accepted that advice, and the two McLaren-Honda cars will therefore be driven in Australia by Fernando’s team-mate Jenson Button and the team’s test and reserve driver Kevin Magnussen.

'Fernando’s doctors acknowledge that he feels fit and well, and that he regards himself as ready to race, and, that being the case, they are comfortable with the fact that he has already recommenced physical training, with a view to preparing for a return to the cockpit of his McLaren-Honda car for the Malaysian Grand Prix meeting on March 27th, 28th and 29th. Indeed, his doctors are supportive of that ambition, satisfied as they are that he sustained no damage whatsoever during his testing accident on February 22nd.

'All at McLaren-Honda fully support Fernando’s decision in respect of his doctors’ advice.'

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I bet he would have raced if the car had been setting Mercedes-esque times in testing.........

 

I think if that was the case, most drivers would be missing races throughout the season, and let's be honest it wasn't the heaviest of shunts. If he was unconscious, does anyone think that his concussion would have been worse (than normal) because of the lack of reflexes and the ability to brace etc?

 

The picture of the impact you just posted again makes you wonder how he got a concusion as if all it's done is broken part of the rear wheel and front wing, how has he got hurt!?

I think elctro-gate will be around for while.

 

I love a conspiracy as much as anyone but the statement refers to minimising the risk of second impact syndrome, which seems legit to me, just from a cursory read on Wikipedia:

 

Looks like a side impact has no deformable structures to absorb the impact. So 100% of the impact is received by the driver. I read somewhere, I think, that he sustained 30G at impact. I wonder if the decision not to race is more to do with McHonda covering their backsides. i.e. They must be seen to be doing what is best for the driver at all costs.

 

I think the Bianchi and (although not F1 related) Schumacher incidents have made everything over Cautious as the sport cant do with anymore bad safety press.

Who was the last driver to miss a race due to a concussion? I think It was Perez after monaco who had to sit out canada after feeling dizzy and sick.

 

Both Kubica and Perez missed races immediately after accidents, but those were both in quick succession (I think literally the next week). This is really concerning, although definitely the correct course of action.

 

What I don't understand is why it wasn't obvious to the team that this would be the case earlier, if it's standard concussion precautions. Two days ago Ron Dennis was saying he'd almost certainly race.

He's begining to sound a little desperate.
"These are just normal testing problems"
"The Honda engine is great"
"There's nothing unusual about the Alonso crash"

 

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Maybe it's simply this: The authorities want to be extra cautious + Alonso's unlikely to get points = Not worth the risk

Well, I hope that's all it is.