Fernando Alonso crash caused by wind

It was a close call for Fernando Alonso

Barcelona, Feb 24 (IANS)

The accident on Sunday that saw Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso being air-lifted to hospital was not caused by a mechanical failure or driver error, but by a gust of "wind", his McLaren Honda team confirmed. Alonso needed to be taken to a hospital after hitting a wall at 150 kmph during pre-season practice at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, reports Xinhua.

"The accident was caused by the unpredictable gusts of wind in that part of the circuit and they had also affected other pilots in a similar manner," explained his team Monday, which insisted there had been no mechanical failure in the Spaniard's car.

The team also denied rumours that Alonso had lost consciousness before the crash, saying that the fact he had changed gear and braked before hitting the wall was "clearly impossible if he had been unconscious at that moment".

Alonso has undergone a series of tests to ensure he has not suffered any internal injuries and McLaren say the results have been "completely normal". He will "remain in hospital in order to recover from the effects of his medication and sedation" and he will leave the hospital when he can "lead a normal life".

"There is no hurry. We don't know if he will be one, two or three days. He will be in as long as needed for the medical team to decide if he can leave," said his representative Luis Garcia Abad.