Alonso set for simulator session as he targets Malaysia F1 return
TWO-TIME Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso is poised to step up his comeback from concussion by driving McLaren’s race simulator today.
Alonso missed Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix, the first race of the 2015 season, after being warned by doctors he was at risk of death by so-called second-impact syndrome if he suffered another crash.
The Spaniard was kept in hospital for three days after ploughing his car into a wall at high speed during testing in Barcelona last month. McLaren have indicated that they hope Alonso will be able to make his second debut for the team at the next race in Malaysia on 29 March.
He is expected to take the next step towards that goal at the team’s Woking headquarters today.
Further medical examinations would then be required before he could be signed off to compete in Kuala Lumpur.
McLaren, who have started a new engine partnership with Honda, suffered a difficult first race in Melbourne, where Jenson Button trailed in last of 11 finishers and Kevin Magnussen did not start.