Injured Williams mechanic returns home for further medical care

Having spent the last two days in a hospital in Barcelona as the result of the injuries he suffered when fuel caught alight at the back of the garage, the mechanic was flown to a British hospital to continue his recovery.

Williams chief operations engineer Mark Gillan said that the mechanic was in a stable condition despite the burns he suffered.

"There were a number of people who attended the circuit medical centre, mostly as the result of smoke inhalation," said Gillan about the injuries members of his team suffered.

"One team member remains in hospital having suffered burns, but he is in a stable condition and in good spirits and has returned to England today for further medical care."

Williams is still conducting a full investigation into the incident, which is believed to have happened as fuel was being prepared for transportation in the garage.

Gillan added: "Investigations into the actual cause of the fire are ongoing and are being performed in collaboration with the local authorities and the FIA.

"The extent of the damage is still being accessed and will not become fully clear until both the cars and equipment have returned to the factory. What is clear is that our garage IT equipment and infrastructure have been badly damaged."

Other teams have offered assistance in any way they can to help Williams prepare for the Monaco Grand Prix, but Gillan admits that it faces a tough challenge ahead of the event.

"On the back of a win [in Spain] we go to Monaco with high hopes but there is a prodigious amount of work to be done prior to the event to recover from the fire," he said.