Alonso heads for Malaysia, ready to get behind wheel

FERNANDO ALONSO is set to return behind the wheel of a McLaren for the forthcoming Malaysian Grand Prix, the Formula One team said yesterday.

The two-time world champion, who missed the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 15 while recovering from concussion, will be racing at Sepang subject to a final medical check on Thursday.

Practice for the second grand prix of the season is on Friday, with qualifying on Saturday for Sunday’s race.

“Since his Barcelona testing accident, Fernando has followed a rigorous, specialised training programme, designed and closely monitored by leading sports scientists, to ensure his safe and timely return to racing,” McLaren said in a statement.

Alonso has analysed the preseason testing accident in Barcelona with senior engineers, with the data and analysis shared with motorsport federation FIA, McLaren said.

“While there was nothing evident in the extensive car telemetry data, nor anything abnormal in the subsequent reconstructions and laboratory tests, Fernando recalls a sense of ‘ heavy’ steering prior to the accident,” the statement said.

“Consequently, the team has fitted an additional sensor to the car, to increase our data capture.”

Williams driver Valtteri Bottas meanwhile said he was confident of being passed fit to race this weekend.

The Finn was forced to miss the Australian Grand Prix after suffering a back injury in qualifying.

Bottas said in a statement he had taken “the necessary measures to make sure I arrive in Malaysia fit to race.” Bottas must pass a FIA medical test on Thursday. – Sapa-dpa