Australian Grand Prix organisers have dismissed suggestions a number of Formula One teams are threatening to boycott the race over safety fears surrounding McLaren.
Fernando Alonso’s crash during the second pre-season test last month in Barcelona, which rendered the Spaniard unconscious and resulted in a three-day stay in hospital, has left many observers perplexed.
To avoid the prospect of second-impact syndrome, Alonso is to sit out next weekend’s season-opening grand prix in Australia, returning for the subsequent race in Malaysia on March 29
McLaren have categorically made clear there was no car or systems failure that led to the incident at the Circuit de Cata-lunya on February 22, instead blaming a freak gust of wind.
The explanation is seemingly unconvincing to some and it has led to suggestions of concern from other teams, to such an extent talk of a boycott has apparently been mentioned.
But Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive officer Andrew Westacott has refuted such gossip.
Speaking to The West Australian, Westacott said: “We’re talking to the teams, Formula One and the FIA multiple times every day and a boycott certainly hasn’t been raised or discussed.
“All the teams are coming to Melbourne; they’re excited about the start of the new season, the freight is on its way, Formula One personnel are on site at Albert Park setting up the broadcast and from our perspective it’s 100 per cent all systems go.
“We hold no fears about anything apart from containing the enthusiasm of the Australian public across the four days.”
Meanwhile, the newspaper El Pais is claiming Alonso thought it was 1995 when first questioned by doctors after the incident in Barcelona, last month.
It further reported the Spaniard responded to routine questions about his identity by saying: “My name is Fernando, I race karts and I want to be a Formula One driver.”
Previous drives
Alonso began his Formula One career in 2001, and according to the Spanish newspaper report he had no initial recollection of his drives for Minardi, Renault, McLaren and Ferrari, before his memory returned.
McLaren are optimistic, however, Alonso will be ready to race by the Malaysian Grand Prix with the driver’s doctors said by the team to be “satisfied... he sustained no damage whatsoever” in the crash.
A McLaren statement earlier this week suggested there was no cause for concern with Alonso after his accident.
McLaren said the 33-year-old was “asymptomatic”, with “no evidence whatsoever of any injury” and “entirely healthy from neurological and cardiac perspectives”.
Kevin Magnussen, demoted to reserve driver following the Spaniard’s return to McLaren after a seven-year absence, will take Alonso’s race seat in Australia.