Fernando Alonso back in training for Malaysian Grand Prix return

Reserve driver Kevin Magnussen has been recalled to race duties for McLaren in Melbourne while Alonso rests on doctors' advice following the concussion he sustained in a Barcelona testing crash last month.

"Of course, I'm very disappointed not to be joining Jenson [Button] in Melbourne in the McLaren-Honda garage, but I understand the recommendations of the doctors and I'm already back in training and preparing for my first race in the MP4-30," said Alonso.

"I would like to thank everybody for their kind wishes and support and I'll be giving everything to be back in the cockpit for Malaysia.

"I wish Kevin all the best for this weekend in Australia, and I know the car is in his safe hands."

Alonso said he would be avidly following the Australian GP weekend and McLaren's data.

"Even though we faced a lot of challenges in the tests, I am very encouraged by the feeling I got from the car, and I'm looking forward to going through all of the data from this weekend with the team to continue our push for development and improve our performance," he said.

Magnussen finished second in Melbourne on his F1 debut last season, but expected to begin 2015 on the sidelines after the team chose to retain Button in preference to him when Alonso returned.

"Although I didn't expect to be sitting in the cockpit in Australia, I've spent the winter preparing as I would normally for a race season, so I feel fit and ready for the task ahead of me and to do the best I can for the team," said the Dane.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for me to get more mileage under my belt in the MP4-30, and this will in turn benefit the team over the coming months as I work with the team back in Woking.

"Of course, we aren't expecting to win here, but my focus is on setting up the car for race conditions and pushing our progress forward."