Romain Grosjean says F1 must learn from Fernando Alonso crash

McLaren's Alonso hit the wall at Turn 3 after running wide, suffering what the team described as "a significant lateral impact".

He spent three days in hospital before being released, however the decision was taken that he would miss this week's final test in Barcelona to rest and recover before the season opener in Australia.

Lotus' Grosjean said: "First we can be happy he is OK and out of hospital.

"The second thing is we need to get the drivers safety a bit higher when it involves a lateral impact."

When asked if he was surprised by the amount of time Alonso had to spend in hospital in comparison with the amount of damage to the car, which was limited to the front upright and axle, Grosjean said: "That's the problem.

"If you hit the wall sideways, the wishbones and so on are not designed to break in that way.

"They are carbon so either they will break or they will stay in one piece.

"If they stay in one piece, the energy has to go somewhere - and that's in the driver."

RUN-OFF CONCERNS

Grosjean, who completed 75 laps and was fifth fastest on the first day of the final test, also said that he does not like the use of artificial grass on the outside of corners either.

"I hate that surface," he said. "When you get on it, you lose the car or you stay straight.

"There are a few places where you really don't want to go on the astroturf, such as 130R at Suzuka, the long Turn 18 in Austin where they added it last year.

"It's a trade-off between stopping the car leaving the track and maintaining safety. But so far, it's the best we have."