Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has rejected McLaren’s claims that his crash in Barcelona was not due to a mechanical failure.
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Alonso has put the blame squarely on the car, despite the team backing its claims that there was no data to show a mechanical error caused the Spaniard to plough into a wall at 140km/h.
The crash caused Alonso to miss the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after he suffered concussion and spent three nights in hospital.
In the days following the crash, McLaren said a “gust of wind” and caused the accident, however Alonso told reporters on Thursday that the accident was caused by a steering issue.
“Even a hurricane will not move the car at that speed,” Alonso is quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Definitely we had a steering problem. I think some of the confusion comes from the very early quotes and explanations, because the attention was very high at that moment.”
Alonso added that McLaren’s information had not been “helpful”, but says he understood that the team had to release information to the media -rightly or wrongly – to try and put an end to speculation.
The former Ferrari man also denied claims from Spanish media which reported that Alonso had woken up in his hospital bed believing it was 1995.
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