The suspicion is Alonso has broken or cracked ribs which will put him under pressure to be recovered in time for the next race up in China too.
McLaren F1 have just confirmed, 2015 GP2 champion Stoffel Vandoorne with replace Fernando Alonso for the Bahrain GP weekend. “McLaren-Honda reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne will be in Bahrain on Friday morning ready to deputise,” the team announced on Twitter. “Following any on-track incident, we will always abide by the FIA doctors’ decisions.”
Alonso suffered a spectacular crash in the season opener in Australia and was forced to report to the medical centre at the Sakhir Circuit this morning for a check up before being cleared to drive this weekend. A statement from the FIA just posted reads:-
It appears McLaren were hopeful that Alonso would be fit, given that Vandoorne was sent back to Japan for Super Formula testing, after spending the Easter weekend back in London. Vandoorne qualifies for an F1 super license having won the GP2 championship last year and having secured mileage under his belt during an Pirelli test following the 2015 Abu Dhabi GP.
It’s been a great Easter weekend in London🇬🇧! Back to Japan🇯🇵 now for more #SuperFormula testing! #DocomoDandelion pic.twitter.com/2hKRDkjiRy
— Stoffel Vandoorne (@svandoorne) March 28, 2016
<script async src=”
So the “perfect package” gets to go up against his replacement for next season.
…Unless Alonso decides enough is enough with an MPxx that tries to kill him every year and discovers an exit clause to his contract. Come to think of it we might even see Jenson tampering with Fernando’s brakes if he gets desparate enough for a 2017 drive
You mean Merc will have one German and one Belgian driver next year ?
Great to see the (runaway) GP2 champ get at least one GP this year, pity it had to come about due to injury. Wishing Fernando a full recovery!
It will be very interesting to see Vandoorne in action, lets just hope he gets more miles out of the Honda than KMag did last year in Aus.
Can’t wait!!!
I’d like to see Stoff go well this weekend, young talent like that deserves a shot in F1.
Oh button, watch out!
Prepare to be amazed all! A ‘great’ in the making is making his debut! VANDOORNE, VANDOORNE, VANDOORNE!
Sorry to hear about Alonso, but this is the golden opportunity Stoffel needed to go up against a former WDC and show everyone what he’s got! His record around Bahrain is pretty impressive so he likes the place a lot.
Best junior talent to rise through all of the lower formula other than Robin Frijns in recent years bar Max.
Robin didn’t get his chance in F1, let’s hope Vandoorne has a great weekend against JB.
Yeah belgium!