Fernando Alonso conscious after crash in Barcelona

McLaren’s Fernando Alonso is said to be “conscious and speaking” after being airlifted to hospital following a heavy crash during the final day of the Formula One pre-season test in Barcelona.

The 33-year-old Spaniard was moved to the Circuit de Catalunya’s medical facility by ambulance and later transferred to hospital by helicopter.

Alonso’s McLaren-Honda had left the track at Turn Three, and hit the wall side on.

McLaren said the two-time world champion was undergoing precautionary checks.

Prior to the accident, McLaren had endured a disappointing test session, with a faulty seal on the MGU-K one of the energy recovery systems on the car causing repeated problems.

The issue first surfaced on Thursday but a revised part fitted on Saturday did not resolve the problem and McLaren were forced to run with reduced power for the rest of the day.