Alonso Given All Clear After Crash

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Fernando Alonso has been given the all-clear by doctors after being involved in a frightening crash at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix. The McLaren driver’s car flipped twice and crumbled to pieces before hitting a barrier at turn three of the Albert Park circuit on Sunday.

“I’m happy to be here, it was quite a scary crash,” Alonso told Network Ten. “Lucky to be here,” the Spaniard concluded.

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso of Spain emerges from the wreck of his car after he collided with Haas driver Esteban Gutierrez of Mexico during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso of Spain emerges from the wreck of his car after he collided with Haas driver Esteban Gutierrez of Mexico during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix. Photograph: Theo Karanikos/AP

Alonso clipped the rear of Esteban Gutierrez of Haas Racing at full speed while trying to pass Gutierrez around the outside on lap 17 of 57. The Spaniard somehow managed to walk away from the mangled wreckage and hoards of debris unharmed. Both he and Gutierrez were taken to the medical centre for assessment. The team later confirmed via Twitter he had been “formally okayed by the doctors”.

“I’m sure his marbles are rattled a little bit,” McLaren chief Ron Dennis told Sky Sports. Stewards will investigate the incident after the race. The accident triggered a red flag, bringing proceedings to a temporary halt before resuming at 4:55pm (AEDT).

Alonso missed the 2015 Australian Grand Prix following a crash during testing in Spain. He joined Gutierrez, Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull), Rio Haryanto (Manor) and Kimi Raikkonen in retiring from the season-opening.

Sunday’s spectacular smash happened at the same corner former driver, now commentator Martin Brundle flipped his Jordan-Peugeot on lap one of the first F1 race at Albert Park in 1996.

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F1 Halo Not Enough - Philippe Bianchi

Jules Bianchi’s father Philippe feels Formula One “must go further” with cockpit safety after being left unconvinced by the new Halo device.

Kimi Raikkonen became the first F1 driver to run with the Halo closed cockpit system during Thursday morning’s testing in Spain. Raikkonen tested the driver’s visibility of the Halo for two laps at the Circuit de Catalunya – the first time the system has been seen on an F1 car during a public session – before his Ferrari team removed the installation.

The Halo, which features a single column down the centre, is designed to shield drivers from flying debris and prevent the sort of accident that killed Henry Surtees last summer. Surtees, the son of the 1964 world champion John, was killed after he was hit on the crash helmet by an errant tyre while competing in a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch.

The F1 driver Bianchi also succumbed to the devastating injuries he sustained at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix in July, although it is not believed improved head protection would have saved the Frenchman. But Bianchi’s father says the Halo device does not provide a total fix for the dangers of an open cockpit and called on F1’s governing body, the FIA, to do more when it comes to driver safety.

“I consider that this is a step forward in terms of security,” Bianchi told the French television channel Canal Plus. “It is obvious that in the case of when a wheel comes off, this system would be effective. However, in the case of small debris, as Felipe Massa and Justin Wilson [the Indycar driver who was killed last August] had, that wouldn’t have changed anything. So this is a step forward, but it does not solve everything.”

Bianchi says such a concept would not have helped his son in his accident at Suzuka in October 2014. “For Jules, it would have changed nothing, because it’s the extremely violent deceleration that caused the damage that we know to his brain,” Bianchi said. “I think developments of the HANS system to better absorb big deceleration in a severe impact could help in this case.”

Standing for Head and Neck Support system, the HANS device works in conjunction with the driver’s helmet and seatbelts to drastically reduce the forces exerted on the head and neck during an accident.

“This is obviously not me who would raise myself against something that brings more security to drivers, but the version of this Halo system did not convince me and has yet to be perfected,” said Bianchi. “Aesthetically, it’s pretty bad, and I wonder what the driver gets to see behind the Halo. The FIA wished to act after Jules’s and Justin’s accidents, but it must go further.”

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Hamilton Crazy About Mexico

Lewis Hamilton described the new Mexican Grand Prix circuit as "challenging for everyone but fun".

The new champion joined drivers in remarking on the lack of grip of Mexico City's track but praised the atmosphere created by thousands of fans.

He said: "It's crazy how slippery it is, just sliding around, a bit like a go-kart track in the slow areas."

Hamilton and others praised the last part of the track, which winds through a stadium with steep grandstands.

The Mexican crowd's roar could be heard above the engine noise as Sergio Perez tackled the circuit

"Lots of people for a Friday," Hamilton said. "Fantastic. Hopefully there will be even more over the weekend."

Hamilton, who has won 10 races so far this season on his way to clinching his third world title, still has a chance to equal the record for number of wins in a season over the remaining three races.

But he said he was "not at all" interested in that, saying his target was "the same as usual - just go out and try to be as quick as I can".

This Sunday's race will be live on BBC radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website from 17:30 GMT.

Hamilton was fourth fastest in second practice at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which has been remodelled since it last hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1992.

The track is at an altitude of 2,285 metres (7,500 feet), which means the cars' aerodynamics work less effectively than at circuits with a lower elevation because of the thinner air.

Hamilton was one of several drivers to lose control of their car during changeable conditions in second practice

Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, who was fastest ahead of the Red Bull drivers Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo, said: "It is great to learn a new track. They have done a good job.

"It is so high up, it is like a ski station in Europe. The air is very thin and even down the straights there is no resistance, so we have the Monaco rear wing on the car but we're doing Monza speeds."

Rosberg's thin hopes of delaying Hamilton's coronation as champion died following a mistake in the closing stages of the US Grand Prix last weekend.

He ran wide while leading and handed the lead and eventual victory to Hamilton, who therefore scored enough points to put the title out of his rivals' reach.

With the races in Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi to go, Rosberg lies second, four points behind Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.

Asked if his motivation was now securing second place in the championship, Rosberg said: "That is not my motivation. It is beating the guy next to me [Hamilton]."

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Red Bull Confirm New Aussie Grit

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Red Bull have confirmed Daniel Ricciardo will drive for the team from the start of next season, replacing his fellow Australia Mark Webber.

Ricciardo, who currently drives for Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso, will link up with triple world champion Sebastian Vettel in the senior team in 2014.

"I feel very, very good at the moment and obviously there's a lot of excitement running through me," said Ricciardo.

"Since joining F1 in 2011 I hoped this would happen and, over time, the belief in me has grown. I had some good results and Red Bull has decided that this is it, so it's a good time.

"Next year I'll be with a Championship-winning team, arguably the best team, and will be expected to deliver. I'm ready for that.

"I'm not here to run around in tenth place, I want to get the best results for myself and the team. I would like to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do.

"I know the team quite well already since being its reserve driver in 2010, which should make the transition easier. It will be a great challenge to be up against Sebastian Vettel, I'm looking forward to that."

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner added: "It's fantastic to confirm Daniel as the team's race driver for 2014, he's a very talented youngster.

"He's committed, he's got a great attitude and, in the end, it was a very logical choice for us.

"He's got all the attributes that are required to drive for our team: he's got a great natural ability and he's a good personality and a great guy to work with.

"Daniel knows what the team expects from him. He'll learn quickly and it's very much a medium to long term view that we're taking in developing him. The seat within the team is a wonderful opportunity and I think he's going to be a big star of the future."

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