After a day of discussion between McLaren and FIA officials, the governing body has finally cleared Fernando Alonso to race in the Chinese GP.
There was an extensive debate on Thursday about the paperwork and also the regulatory framework related to a driver returning from injury, with the FIA citing both its International Sporting Code as well as the F1 Sporting Regulations in its announcement.
The FIA said that Alonso will have to undergo a further examination after FP1 before being cleared to compete for the rest of the weekend. It said: “He is instructed by the FIA Medical Delegate and Chief Medical Officer to undergo a further examination immediately following FP1 to determine his further eligibility to take part in the remainder of the Event.”
Earlier, Alonso had told the media that he felt a lot better than in Bahrain and was confident that he would be allowed to race.
“I feel good, I feel OK,” he said. “Honestly, in Bahrain, I was mentally 100 percent ready to race, but physically I had a lot of pain in Bahrain and I was ready to try at least and see if the pain was manageable or not with the rib broken. Now the situation has improved a lot. I am mentally 120 percent now and physically I am 100 percent with no pain at least in the last couple of days.
“I have been training with a more or less normal routine for the last two weeks, running, bicycle, golf and tennis – many sports that are a big change in approach for this race a bit more ready and fit. I did sleep OK for the last 2 weeks as well which was quite a good thing because in the first 10 days after Australia I could not sleep on one side which was not very comfortable. As I said from Bahrain to here a big improvement.”
He added: “the first one I want to be 100 percent is me, because it is my safety. I feel 100 percent. I guess they will feel I am 100 percent. I guess the normal thing, will be after first session that I feel okay because F1 is a very unique sport, it doesn't matter what activity you do before racing, with the unique position I am sitting in, with the G-forces everything can change in the car so after the first couple of laps I will feel if I am OK from my side.
“And if it is OK from their side. That is the normal thing or logical thing to follow. If it is sooner or later, the written decision they are making. I this probably a longer process behind than what we think. For us as sportsman and media, it should be black and white and quite quickly, but there are some formal things that you need to follow sometimes.”
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