Imogen Calderwood
SPANISH Formula One driver Fernando Alonso is recovering in hospital after a serious crash in Barcelona.
The 33-year-old is ‘okay and conscious’ after crashing on the final day of pre-season testing, on Sunday.
Hospital scans show that Alonso is concussed but otherwise uninjured. He stayed in hospital overnight ‘as a precaution’, according to McLaren team boss Eric Boullier.
“Fernando’s accident was just one of those things that happens in testing,” added Boullier.
“Fortunately he’s fine, but was concussed during the accident, which therefore required an overnight stay.”
The two-time world champion hit a wall on the exit of Turn Three, while travelling at speeds of up to 240kph.
He was taken to the Catalunya Circuit’s medical centre for emergency treatment, before being airlifted to hospital.
The circuit tweeted afterwards: “It seems that Alonso is okay. We hope that everything’s alright and all ends with just a shock!”
No information has yet been announced on whether the accident was a driver error or a technical fault.
