Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsMcLaren

Alonso released from hospital, will miss test

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Fernando Alonso has been released from hospital following his testing crash but will miss the final test at the Circuit de Catalunya this week.

The Spaniard crashed on Sunday and was hospitalised for three nights following the incident, which resulted in McLaren ending its running at the second test early. Confirming that Alonso has been released from hospital, McLaren says he will return home to recuperate and reserve driver Kevin Magnussen will replace him for the final test this week.

"Following his testing accident at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last Sunday, we are pleased to confirm that Fernando Alonso has now left hospital," a team statement said. "He has returned to his family's home in Spain for further rest and recuperation.

"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.

"Jenson will be testing the McLaren-Honda car tomorrow (February 26), and the team will confirm the full day-to-day running order in due course."

McLaren said on Monday that its investigations in to the cause of the incident had revealed Alonso crashed due to "unpredictably gusty winds".

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.