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Alonso must clear 3 tests before he can race again

LONDON — Fernando Alonso was scheduled to be assessed by three medical experts at Cambridge University yesterday (this morning, Singapore time) to see whether he is able to return to Formula 1.

Alonso (centre) with medical staff last month while leaving the hospital north of Barcelona, where he was warded after his accident. He is said to be concerned by the unexplained circumstances that surrounded the event at the Circuit de Catalunya. Photo: Reuters

Alonso (centre) with medical staff last month while leaving the hospital north of Barcelona, where he was warded after his accident. He is said to be concerned by the unexplained circumstances that surrounded the event at the Circuit de Catalunya. Photo: Reuters

LONDON — Fernando Alonso was scheduled to be assessed by three medical experts at Cambridge University yesterday (this morning, Singapore time) to see whether he is able to return to Formula 1.

Telegraph Sport understands that Alonso, who missed the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after suffering a concussion in a testing accident last month, will see the doctors at the request of the FIA, motorsport’s governing body.

Given the unexplained nature of his crash, they are eager to be as thorough as possible with Alonso.

The Spaniard, who has rejoined McLaren this season on a £25 million (S$51.5 million) a year deal, will face a full medical examination.

The Cambridge doctors will also study all the scans that the F1 driver has had to date.

Should the 33-year-old be declared fit, he will travel to Kuala Lumpur for the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, but will still have to clear two further hurdles on Thursday morning before he will be allowed to race.

The first is a medical exam by the chief doctor at the Sepang Circuit. The second is the FIA’s “impact test”, which measures reaction times using a computer programme and will be conducted by chief medical officer Jean-Charles Piette.

Only when Alonso has tackled all three challenges successfully will he get back behind the wheel of his McLaren.

Alonso’s manager Luis Garcia Abad has said the tests should be a formality, but McLaren are eager to avoid complacency and anxious to simply wait until they are given medical advice.

Having completed a successful run in McLaren’s state-of-the-art simulator on Wednesday, Alonso travelled to Cambridge yesterday before returning to his home in Dubai.

Should he be given the all-clear, he will fly to Kuala Lumpur, most probably on Tuesday.

Alonso is said to be concerned by the unexplained circumstances that surrounded his accident at the Circuit de Catalunya on Feb 22. The Spaniard briefly blacked out after the impact and has no recollection of the crash.

McLaren have been accused of adding to the mystery with a series of blunders by the team’s chairman Ron Dennis.

All that is certain is that whoever drives the McLaren in Malaysia — Alonso or his replacement in Melbourne, Kevin Magnussen — it will be slow.

The team’s new Honda engine is unreliable and way off the pace. Jenson Button finished the first race of the year last.

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