Through analysing the cars’ damage and telemetry, the team believe that Alonso encountered strong winds going through turn three, affecting the car’s grip and causing him to run wide, something which also happened to Carlos Sainz Jr. in the Toro Rosso yesterday. Less traction on the astroturf meant the car snapped back towards the inside of the track, making what they called a “significant lateral impact” with the wall first with the right-front, then the right-rear.
McLaren are also adamant that there were no car issues at the time of the crash, finding no loss of aerodynamic pressure or electrical discharge by the ERS system, the latter debunking a rumour that Fernando was made unconscious by electric shock before the impact. They explained: “Our data clearly shows that he was downshifting while applying full brake pressure right up to the moment of the first impact - something that clearly would not have been possible had he been unconscious at the time.”
According to the team, Alonso has had routine check-ups and is apparently talking to family, friends and hospital staff, but will remain in hospital to undergo further observation work. They will decide whether or not he will run in the final Barcelona test, starting on Thursday, “in due course.”
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