Ferrari's Fernando Alonso fit for US Grand Prix

  • Published

Ferrari say Fernando Alonso will be fit to race in the US Grand Prix despite a back injury.

A medical alarm was triggered in the Spaniard's Ferrari when it crashed down after hitting kerbs at more than 150mph during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Alonso, 32, was released from hospital on Sunday but had a further check-up on Monday after suffering discomfort.

"He's OK, just some pain and nothing more," a Ferrari spokesman told BBC Sport. "The check-up was fine."

The US Grand Prix takes place in Austin on 17 November.

Alonso said on Monday that he was still suffering pain in his back.

"The night was so-so," he said., external "I will do more tests this afternoon and try to be 100% as soon as possible."

The sensors in Alonso's car measured the impact at 28G as he ran off the track to avoid the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne.

The medical alarm is triggered when it records a G-force of 18 or more and means the driver must go to the medical centre for a check-up.

Alonso conducted media interviews after the race in Abu Dhabi before going to hospital for what a Ferrari spokesman referred to as a "normal precautionary check".

The check was requested by the FIA, the body that governs Formula 1.

The incident happened as Alonso left the pits following his final stop on lap 44 of the race.

He came out alongside Vergne and had to take action to avoid the Frenchman, who later said he had not seen the Ferrari as he entered the 155mph turn.

Despite being launched over the kerbs, Alonso passed Vergne while running off the track but was cleared of wrongdoing by race officials, who accepted that he had no choice but to run wide.

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