Dennis explains request to let Alonso race

Ron Dennis has explained how and why McLaren asked the FIA permission to let Fernando Alonso race on Saturday in Bahrain.

The FIA ruled Alonso out of racing this weekend on medical grounds on Thursday, with the Spaniard still recovering from injuries sustained in a heavy crash at the Australian Grand Prix. While Stoffel Vandoorne had been called up as his replacement, it has emerged McLaren asked the FIA to reconsider its decision on Saturday in an attempt to have Alonso reinstated.

Dennis insists the request was not made to undermine Vandoorne but rather a reaction to Alonso's personal feeling that he could race.

"I was involved so it is better I clear it up completely," Dennis said. "When the team arrived here they brought two scans that were taken on Monday. The two sets of doctors in Spain had cleared Fernando to drive and fly, so we were very surprised to get a different interpretation here.

"As we got through yesterday, Fernando was feeling aggrieved that he felt so good and he felt he wanted to drive. We have an obligation, of course we understand the impact on Stoffel, it is not a question of anything other than following what you feel is right.

"So we approached the FIA and said if we had a new scan taken this morning and if this new scan supported the position of the doctors five days later, would they then let him drive? And they said no, it doesn’t matter was the scan showed he wouldn’t be permitted to drive.

"Being data driven, it was a bit frustrating that you are not given the opportunity to evaluate the drivers’ condition and if you want to go one step beyond that, nearly every team sport in the world, the fitness of the athlete, the football player, the ice hockey player, the skier is determined by the team.

"The position of the FIA I feel is to ensure the safety of the other drivers, and if a driver feels a bit of pain and wants to drive with a bit of pain, it is the driver’s decision and not to be able to re-evaluate the situation this morning I didn’t feel was appropriate.

"This wasn’t about dampening the enthusiasm and motivation of Stoffel, we have supported him through the years, we will supported him here and we will continue to support him.

"There is a thing that you have to do as a team and we were doing what I felt it was appropriate for the team and I thought it was unreasonable that if there was a new scan that substantiated his ability to drive… you know, it is a cracked rib, that would justify us doing it.

"Therefore, the doctor took a view and what became scientific became subjective. And I didn’t think it was very right. In the end we respect the FIA and we live by it."

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AS IT HAPPENED: Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying

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