BARCELONA - Two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso is making a "solid recovery" from a crash in testing, his McLaren team said Monday, strongly denying that his car suffered a mechanical failure.
McLaren Honda's Spanish driver Fernando Alonso is shielded by teammates and medical staff as he is stretchered off after crashing during a pre-season test day at the Circuit de Catalunya on February 21, 2015 in Montmelo, near Barcelona
The Spaniard crashed into a wall between turns three and four at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya after 20 laps of testing on Sunday.
He was airlifted to hospital and the team said all scans were "normal" but Alonso would be kept in hospital. It did not give details of his injuries.
"In order to provide the privacy and tranquillity required to facilitate a peaceful recuperation, he is being kept in hospital for further observation, and to recover from the effects of the medication that successfully managed his routine sedation yesterday," said a team statement.
The team said it suspected strong winds blew Alonso off course on Sunday.
"Our findings indicate that the accident was caused by the unpredictably gusty winds at that part of the circuit at that time, and which had affected other drivers," said the statement.
"We can categorically state that there is no evidence that indicates that Fernando’s car suffered mechanical failure of any kind," it added.