Concussed Fernando Alonso in hospital after Formula One testing crash

McLaren’s Fernando Alonso was kept in hospital overnight after crashing heavily on the final day of Formula One’s second pre-season test in Barcelona on Sunday.

The Spaniard, a double world champion returning to McLaren this season after five years at Ferrari, was concussed when the car hit the wall on the exit of the 240km/h turn three at the Circuit de Catalunya.

The 33-year-old, who was conscious and talking after the impact, was taken to the medical centre for initial treatment before being airlifted to hospital where he had CT and MRI scans.

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier played down the severity of the crash, however, and said it was “just one of those things that happens in testing.

"Fortunately, he’s fine, but was concussed during the accident, which therefore required an overnight stay in hospital as a precaution,” said the Frenchman. “That’s normal practice after a concussion.

“Inevitably, some media reports have sought to exaggerate the severity of the incident – it was just a normal testing accident.”

Sensors in Formula One cars measure the G-Force of crashes and FIA rules dictate that drivers must complete mandatory hospital tests if a certain reading is exceeded.