- First Barcelona Test - Day Four
Alonso airlifted to hospital after testing crash
Fernando Alonso was airlifted to hospital for medical checks after crashing his McLaren on the final morning of testing, but was conscious and taking according to the team.
Alonso crashed into the inside barrier between the high-speed Turn 3 and medium-speed Turn 4, bringing an early end to the morning session 20 minutes before lunch. The car lost its front wing in the impact, but the nose and suspension appeared to be intact.
An ambulance was dispatched to the scene of the accident and brought Alonso to the medical centre before he was transferred to the medical helicopter and airlifted to hospital. The circuit reported that the McLaren driver was "Okay and conscious" before leaving for hospital.
"Today at 12:35 CET, while testing at the Circuit de Catalunya (Barcelona), during the fourth and final day of the current test, Fernando Alonso's McLaren-Honda car left the track at Turn Three, causing the right-hand side of his car to strike the wall," a McLaren statement read.
"Fernando was driven to the circuit's Medical Centre where the circuit's doctors gave him first aid.
"He was conscious and spoke with the doctors.
"However, as per usual procedure in such circumstances, he was then airlifted to hospital where he is undergoing precautionary checks.
"We will issue a further update in due course."
After a week plagued with MGU-K problems the crash is another setback for McLaren, which was planning to split Sunday's running between Alonso in the morning and Jenson Button in the afternoon. The car was returned to the pits for the team to assess the damage.
Up to that point, Alonso had completed 19 laps with the fifth best time.
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