Fernando Alonso Opens Up on Barcelona F1 Crash at Malaysian GP Presser

Fernando Alonso’s second chance at McLaren has gotten off to a very rocky start. The Spaniard missed the 2015 Formula One curtain-raiser in Australia after being hospitalised following a crash in pre-season testing in Barcelona, but he has opened up about the accident in an FIA press conference ahead of his return to action in Malaysia.

The double world champion has revealed it was a steering issue that caused him to career into a wall at the Circuit de Catalunya back in February and, while McLaren has since made amendments to the car, at the time there was little he could do about it, per Chris Medland of F1i.com:

Naturally, rumours raged in the aftermath of the incident about Alonso’s condition and the circumstances surrounding the accident. According to El Pais (h/t Byron Young and Ed Malyon of the Mirror) the Spaniard “woke up in 1995” and could not remember making his Formula 1 debut.

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

But the former Ferrari star has dismissed those claims at the Sepang circuit ahead of his return, per the Formula 1 Twitter account:

Alonso also revealed he was fully aware of his actions in the immediate aftermath of the crash and even had the presence of mind to turn off his ERS system before losing consciousness in the ambulance following the smash, per ESPN:

"

After the hit I was kissing the wall for a while and then I switched off the radio first because it was on and then I switched off the master switch that we use for the batteries to switch off the ERS system so the marshals can touch the car. I was perfectly conscious at that time.

I lost consciousness in the ambulance or clinic at the circuit, but the doctors said this is normal because the medication that they put you under for the transportation and the checks that they do in the hospital and MRI and evaluation needs this protocol and medication.

"

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Alonso admitted he was disappointed to miss the season-opener, as McLaren endured a difficult time of things Down Under. His replacement Kevin Magnussen was forced into a late withdrawal from the race, while Jenson Button could only finish 11th; the Brit was the last of all the cars remaining on track to finish.

Given the troubles of his team and the comfortable manner in which Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton waltzed to victory, Alonso admitted it wasn’t the most enjoyable race to watch, per ESPN F1:

Thankfully for the Spaniard he’ll be back behind the wheel soon and looking to make good on his second chance with McLaren, Alonso endured a difficult stint with the team back in 2007, departing for Renault after one season. But with plenty of water now passed under the bridge on both sides, he will be desperate to showcase his array of skills with this illustrious team.

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Alonso also paid tribute to the help he'd received from McLaren and the FIA as of late on his official Twitter account:

Some fans may have concerns about the Spaniard getting back behind the wheel a month on from such a serious collision, but Alonso insisted there is absolutely nothing to worry about:

Indeed, despite being the new man in the garage, the 33-year-old insisted he has an unyielding confidence in his team, per ESPN:

"

I fully trust the team and they have been one month looking at every component of the car, simulating the effects, doing so many tests and changing every single part that they had doubts about.

I think we have the safest car right now because we thought they start as they did, and probably after one month I am the most checked driver, medically, in history. We should be fine, both of us.

"

A lot of the confusion and worry surrounding his condition has stemmed from McLaren’s willingness to keep details quiet, and while that’s frustrating for fans, it’s the right procedure to follow in the aftermath of crashes like this. But Alonso’s comments have certainly cleared up some of the misinformation that has surfaced.

Given the dangerous nature of the sport, the minutiae of Alonso’s condition will have been checked thoroughly, and as such, there’s no reason to doubt his assessment that he’s ready to go in Malaysia.

His return should give everyone at McLaren a boost, and the Spaniard will be looking to enhance that feel-good factor with a classy display at Sepang.