Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso will miss the upcoming Australian Grand Prix in less than two weeks’ time, and will be replaced by Danish driver Kevin Magnussen.
Australia would have been Alonso’s first race with McLaren since their fractious single season together in 2007, but he suffered a high-speed impact during the second pre-season test at Barcelona last month which left him briefly hospitalized with a concussion. Although the Spaniard has since left hospital, McLaren said in a statement that doctors recommended against, “for the time being”, activity which could result in a second concussion and invoking possibly-fatal second impact syndrome. Alonso will therefore focus instead on fully recovering for the second round in Malaysia on March 27-29th. The team reiterated that following tests and scans he was “entirely healthy from neurological and cardiac perspectives alike.”
It caps a thoroughly disappointing start for McLaren to 2015, their new relationship with engine suppliers Honda wracked by constant reliability issues which have left them down on running compared to their pitlane rivals. 22 year-old Magnussen at least gets one more chance to race alongside 2014 teammate Jenson Button before being consigned to test driver duties at the team.