Fernando Alonso to miss F1 season opening Australian GP post suffering concussion in testing crash

Spanish racer Fernando Alonso would miss the Formula One season opening race in Melbourne, Australia after he suffered concussion in a crash during testing.

Alonso's Formula One team McLaren said in a statement that the two-time world champion's doctors have recommended to him that, following the concussion he sustained in a testing accident, the racer should seek to limit as far as is possible any environmental risk factors that could potentially result in him sustaining another concussion so soon after his previous one, in order to minimize chances of a second impact syndrome.

Alonso suffered a concussion in a crash he sustained in a testing accident at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on February 22nd, the Daily Telegraph reported.

McLaren added that in order to limit those environmental risk factors, specifically, Alonso's doctors have advised that the Spaniard should not compete in the imminent Australian Grand Prix meeting, which would take place on March 13th, 14th and 15th.

McLaren further stated that Alonso has understood and accepted that advice, and the two McLaren-Honda cars would therefore be driven in Australia by Fernando's teammate Jenson Button and the team's test and reserve driver Kevin Magnussen.

The Spaniard crashed into a wall at the track in Barcelona when he ran wide on the final day of the second pre-season test and had to be air-lifted to hospital under sedation.

Alonso spent three nights in hospital before being released and as a result sat out the final testing session in Barcelona last week so as to rest and recuperate at home in the northern Spanish city of Oviedo.

McLaren, meanwhile, remain hopeful that Alonso would be cleared to race in the second Grand Prix of the season in Malaysia on March 29, the report added.