McLaren turn to Kevin Magnussen with Alonso to rest at home following crash; Force India to debut 2015 car on Friday; Melbourne-spec aero packages expected to arrive
Sunday 29 March 2015 07:15, UK
McLaren’s Fernando Alonso will miss this week's final pre-season test at Barcelona as he rests at home after his accident at the circuit on Sunday.
The Spaniard was airlifted to General Hospital de Catalunya after suffering concussion when his MP4-30 left the circuit at Turn Three and made side-on impact with the wall on the inside of the corner. Although scans confirmed the 33-year-old had been uninjured in the accident, Alonso spent the following three nights convalescing in hospital before being released on Wednesday afternoon.
With the third and final pre-season test following hot on the heels of the last one, McLaren confirmed in a statement that Alonso would return to his family home in Spain to continue his recovery, with reserve driver Kevin Magnussen to take his place in the MP4-30 at Barcelona. Jenson Button will drive on the first day, with the full four-day running order to be confirmed in due course.
"Following his testing accident at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last Sunday, we are pleased to confirm that Fernando Alonso has now left hospital. He has returned to his family’s home in Spain for further rest and recuperation," McLaren said.
"As a result, he will sit out this week’s final winter test, at which he was due to share driving duties with Jenson Button. Kevin Magnussen, McLaren-Honda’s test and reserve driver, will replace him."
The FIA, the sport's governing body, also confirmed on Wednesday they will be launching an investigation into Alonso's crash.
Speaking on his departure from the hospital, Alonso's manager Luis Garcia Abad told Sky Sports News HQ: "He wants to drive – even today – but we have to take care of him because he needs to rest. The doctors said he needs to recover and this is the most important thing for us."
Although Magnussen, as the man who made way for the returning Alonso in the team's race line-up, has up-to-date F1 experience, the loss of the two-time world champion for the critical final test undoubtedly represents another setback for a McLaren team who have already endured a difficult first winter back in partnership with Honda. The new MP4-30 has completed less than half the mileage of every other 2015 car, with the team’s cumulative 927km over 3,000km less than world champions Mercedes.
Alonso, who has returned to McLaren for this season after five years at Ferrari, will now head into next month's Australian GP with just 117 laps under his belt this winter, although that is still 30 more than team-mate Button as things stand.
The final test represents the last chance for all teams to finalise their on-track preparations for the season-opening race in Melbourne in two weeks' time.
However, for Force India the test will give the team a first chance to run their 2015 car with the team planning to debut the VJM08 on Day Two.
Elsewhere, having started to show their hand at last week's test, Mercedes will aim to cap off an impressive winter with the W06. Lewis Hamilton will be in the car on Day One, with the world champion and Nico Rosberg alternating thereafter.
While Williams, Toro Rosso, Lotus and Sauber are all also alternating their drivers, Red Bull are giving their drivers two consecutive days in the car - Daniil Kvyat in the RB11 for the first two before Daniel Ricciardo takes over for the weekend.
Most teams are expected to bring their Melbourne-spec aerodynamic packages to the final test, meaning the 2015 challengers are likely to feature noticeable differences from the ones which launched at Jerez at the start of the month.
DAY ONE
Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton
Red Bull – Daniil Kvyat
Williams – Felipe Massa
Ferrari – Kimi Raikkonen
McLaren – Jenson Button
Force India – TBA
Toro Rosso – Carlos Sainz
Lotus – Romain Grosjean
Sauber – Marcus Ericsson
DAY TWO
Mercedes – Nico Rosberg
Red Bull – Daniil Kvyat
Williams – Valtteri Bottas
Ferrari – Sebastian Vettel
McLaren – TBA
Force India – TBA
Toro Rosso – Max Verstappen
Lotus – Pastor Maldonado
Sauber – Felipe Nasr
DAY THREE
Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton
Red Bull – Daniel Ricciardo
Williams – Felipe Massa
Ferrari – Kimi Raikkonen
McLaren – TBA
Force India – TBA
Toro Rosso – Carlos Sainz
Lotus – Romain Grosjean
Sauber – Marcus Ericsson
DAY FOUR
Mercedes – Nico Rosberg
Red Bull – Daniel Ricciardo
Williams – Valtteri Bottas
Ferrari – Sebastian Vettel
McLaren – TBA
Force India – TBA
Toro Rosso – Max Verstappen
Lotus – Pastor Maldonado
Sauber – Felipe Nasr
