This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/26/fernando-alonso-mclaren-malaysian-gp

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
McLaren’s Fernando Alonso blames crash on car problem on eve of F1 return McLaren’s Fernando Alonso blames crash on car on eve of F1 return
(about 2 hours later)
Fernando Alonso insists there was a problem with his car when he crashed in testing in Barcelona last month, even though exhaustive tests by his McLaren team have ruled out any form of mechanical failure. Fernando Alonso insists there was a problem with his car when he crashed in testing in Barcelona, even though exhaustive tests by McLaren have ruled out mechanical failure.
Alonso was speaking here after further medical tests cleared him to make his first appearance of the 2015 Formula One season at the Sepang International Circuit on Sunday. Medical tests at the Sepang circuit have cleared Alonso to make his first appearance of the Formula One season in the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday.
Alonso maintains his steering locked before he crashed at turn three at the Circuit de Catalunya in the second of the three pre-season testing sessions. He spent three days in hospital following the accident, in which he suffered concussion, and missed the opening race of the season in Melbourne on 15 March. The 33-year-old maintains his steering locked before he crashed at the Circuit de Catalunya in the second of the three pre-season testing sessions. He spent three days in hospital after suffering concussion and missed the opening F1 race in Melbourne on 15 March. Rumours persist the Spaniard lost consciousness – at least partially – before the crash.
Alonso also said he had a four-hour memory loss – but only after he had been admitted to hospital and received medication. The double world champion also dismissed McLaren’s claim that strong winds had played a part in the incident. Alonso also said he had a four-hour memory loss but only after he had been admitted to hospital and received medication. The double world champion also dismissed McLaren’s claim that strong winds had played a part in the incident.
“There was a lot of attention on that day and probably the first answers the team and my manager had was some guess,” he said. “They said the theory of the wind but obviously it was not a help. We had a steering problem in the middle of turn three. It locked to the right, I approached the wall, I braked at the last moment, I downshifted from fifth to third.“There was a lot of attention on that day and probably the first answers the team and my manager had was some guess,” he said. “They said the theory of the wind but obviously it was not a help. We had a steering problem in the middle of turn three. It locked to the right, I approached the wall, I braked at the last moment, I downshifted from fifth to third.
“Unfortunately on the data, we’re still missing some parts. The data acquisition on that particular area of the car is not top. It is clear that there was a problem on the car. It’s not been found on the data at the moment. There is not a clear answer. “Unfortunately on the data, we’re still missing some parts. The data acquisition on that particular area of the car is not top. It is clear there was a problem on the car. It’s not been found on the data at the moment. There is not a clear answer.
“I remember everything. It was a sunny morning, [I remember] all the set-up changes, all the lap times. [Sebastian] Vettel was in front of me before turn three but cut the chicane to let me go.“I remember everything. It was a sunny morning, [I remember] all the set-up changes, all the lap times. [Sebastian] Vettel was in front of me before turn three but cut the chicane to let me go.
“After the hit, I was kissing the wall for a while, then I switched off the radio first because it was on, then I switched off the master switch. I was perfectly conscious at that time.“After the hit, I was kissing the wall for a while, then I switched off the radio first because it was on, then I switched off the master switch. I was perfectly conscious at that time.
“I lost the consciousness in the ambulance or in the clinic at the track. The doctors said this is normal because the medication they give is for the helicopter transportation and the checks they do in the hospital like the MRI and evaluation need this protocol, it needs this medication, so it’s normal.”“I lost the consciousness in the ambulance or in the clinic at the track. The doctors said this is normal because the medication they give is for the helicopter transportation and the checks they do in the hospital like the MRI and evaluation need this protocol, it needs this medication, so it’s normal.”
Rumours persist that Alonso lost consciousness – at least partially – before the crash. But he passed medical tests at the track on Thursday – before intensive tests in Cambridge on Sunday – clearing him to drive at the weekend, making his second debut for the McLaren team he left at the end of 2007. Sunday’s race will mark Alonso’s second debut for the McLaren team he left at the end of 2007.