Alonso ‘unlikely' to drive in final test

Fernando Alonso looks likely to miss the final test of pre-season, as he continues to recover from a crash in hospital.

The McLaren driver hit the wall at turn three at Barcelona, on the final day of the second pre-season test due to high winds which blew him off the track.

He was subsequently airlifted to hospital as a precautionary measure, but he has remained there ever since due to concussion symptoms.

Sky Sports suggests that Jenson Button and reserve driver Kevin Magnussen will drive across the final four days of winter testing, which starts tomorrow.

In a statement, the team said that they intend to give Alonso: “…every opportunity to make a rapid and complete recovery, and will evaluate in due course whether or not he will participate in the next Barcelona test.”

This would be another big hit to McLaren’s pre-season, as they have, so far, struggled to make their new car work.

Alonso has completed just 117 laps across four days, which is less than Mercedes completed on day one in Jerez three weeks ago.

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