Fernando Alonso Ruled Unfit To Race Following Melbourne Crash, Will Miss Bahrain

Spanish McLaren Driver Fernando Alonso has been ruled out of this upcoming weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix as a result of the injuries he sustained during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 20.

Fernando Alonso Ruled Unfit To Race Following Melbourne Crash, Will Miss Bahrain

The former World Champion will be replaced by Beglian McLaren third driver Stoffel Vandoorne for the rest of the weekend.

Following the accident, Alonso, 34, complained of a swollen knee and sore ribs. He was ruled out because of the latter after an FIA medical examination in Bahrain on Thursday. The Spaniard missed the Australian GP due to his Barcelona testing accident.

An FIA statement said: “Following an examination undertaken this morning at the Bahrain International Circuit Medical Centre, it has been decided that McLaren Honda F1 Team driver Fernando Alonso should not take part in this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix. Two sets of chest CT scans were compared and it was decided on safety grounds that there was insufficient resolution of the signs to allow him to compete on safety grounds.”

It added: “A repeat chest scan has been requested before the Chinese Grand Prix and the results will be considered before allowing him to race there.”

Shortly after getting the news of his debut in Bahrain, Vandoorne, 24, said the following on Twitter:

“I respect the decision,” Alonso commented. “I tried until the last moment to be able to race, at least to try in the practice. It has been some painful days at home. I was ready to go through this pain somehow in the car and make sure I could race, because at the end of the day the pain is manageable if you don’t think too much probably.”

PHOTO: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 20: Jolyon Palmer of Great Britain drives the (30) Renault Sport Formula One Team Renault RS16 Renault RE16 turbo with Fernando Alonso of Spain drives the (14) McLaren Honda Formula 1 Team McLaren MP4-31 Honda RA616H Hybrid turbo on track at the start during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park on March 20, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)