McLaren F1 team unsure if Fernando Alonso can race in Australian GP

Alonso spent three days recovering in hospital after crashing heavily at the Barcelona F1 circuit.

The double world champion is now recuperating at home, so McLaren has drafted in reserve Kevin Magnussen to drive this week and the Dane is on standby if Alonso does not recover sufficiently from the after-effects of his accident to race in Melbourne on March 15.

McLaren chief Ron Dennis told reporters at Barcelona: "There will be some tests. There is a process laid down by the FIA and I can't see any reason why he won't just sail through, but it's not for me to determine.

"He had the accident a short while ago. Would anybody say it's common sense to bring Fernando here? No. After that, we put it down the road.

"The doctors said [his chances of racing] are unquantifiable. [But] it's a normal recovery process for a driver to go through, especially as there is no structural damage [to his brain].

"He's completely lucid, normal, talking, wants to drive, but the doctor said: "if you really want to be sure, and you want to give him the best chance of going to Australia, then the best thing to do is to rest him.

"We're not going to go against the wishes of the doctor; it's as simple as that."

When asked whether Alonso would race in Australia, Dennis replied: "I can't foresee any reason why not, but I'm not the doctor."

'WHIPLASH OF THE BRAIN'

Dennis confirmed Alonso has received no physical injuries from his crash, despite a McLaren statement on Sunday night suggesting the Spaniard had suffered a concussion.

Dennis said the doctors were being "cautious" because of the fact Alonso experienced the symptoms of concussion while being "devoid of all injuries" when examined medically.

When asked why Alonso spent three days in hospital, Dennis replied: "Because there was a period of unconsciousness.

"It was relatively short. The g figures of the accident were significantly less in his helmet than they were in the car - less than half.

"The head restraint is primarily designed for fore and aft movement, and this movement was [side-to-side]. It was surprising they wanted to be so careful.

"There were reports of some inability to recall - again that's normal when you're shaken like this.

"As is always the case with a potential head injury he was sedated here [at the track].

"He had completely clear CT and MRI scans. At no stage of the inspection process was there any indication of any damage to his brain.

"He's not even concussed. The technical definition of a concussion you can see in a scan.

"The possibility is the change of direction [of his head] happened so fast it was like a whiplash of the brain - it didn't bleed, or bruise, or anything.

"He is physically perfect. He got the symptoms [of concussion] at one stage, but nothing that shows [on a scan]."