FIA to investigate Fernando Alonso's McLaren Formula 1 test crash
The FIA has confirmed that it is to investigate the circumstances surrounding McLaren driver Fernando Alonso's Barcelona Formula 1 testing accident to find out if lessons can be learned
Although the governing body does not automatically review all incidents at tests, because they are organised by teams rather than being an official FIA-run event, the fact that Alonso spent three days in hospital after the crash has prompted it into action.
AUTOSPORT understands that the FIA has already begun working in co-operation with McLaren to go through the accident data.
Furthermore, high level sources have revealed that CCTV footage of the Alonso crash has been sourced and will be used to try to give some better insight into exactly what happened.
It is understood the low-quality footage was taken from a camera near Turn 4 looking back at the exit of Turn 3 - and it captures Alonso running wide, trying to correct his car and then slowing down before crashing into the wall on the inside.
An FIA spokesman said that it was important for the governing body to try to see if there are any safety improvements that can be made.
"We will be looking very carefully at what happened," said the spokesman.
"We want to know what took place, so we will be gathering all the information that we can - as well as fully co-operating with McLaren."
The fact that Alonso spent three nights in hospital following his crash has prompted wild speculation that the incident was not as normal as McLaren has made out.
The uncertainty has been further exacerbated by McLaren not making public data about the speed of what is believed to be two impacts with the wall, nor of the G-forces that Alonso experienced.
McLaren has strongly refuted suggestions that Alonso was unconscious before the crash, and insists that the most likely explanation for the accident was that the Spaniard was caught out by a sudden gust of wind.
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Top Comments
From Red Bull’s ‘monster’ to Ferrari’s high-speed bouncing: What’s behind F1’s car balance problems?
Mercedes car more “on edge” since summer break
Jon Noble: Why Ferrari could be a dark horse for the title – but we can't be sure until October
Alonso: Aston Martin struggling to beat Williams and Haas is not acceptable
Alonso would rather have upgrades than strategy “brain” at Monza
Can Aston Martin vanquish its current form to fight at the front?
Ayrton Senna's magic moments, chosen by his race engineers
How Piastri is already showing signs of being a true F1 great
How the chief architect of McLaren's improvement plans to continue its rise
Who has won the most consecutive F1 world drivers' championships?
New WRC points proposals under review for 2025
Ayrton Senna's magic moments, chosen by his race engineers
From Red Bull’s ‘monster’ to Ferrari’s high-speed bouncing: What’s behind F1’s car balance problems?
Ayrton Senna's magic moments, chosen by his race engineers
Why the turbine Lotus experiment failed to realise its potential in F1
How the chief architect of McLaren's improvement plans to continue its rise
Jon Noble: Why Ferrari could be a dark horse for the title – but we can't be sure until October
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
