Alonso's back pain will get more medical checks

Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso on Monday admitted he is still in pain after a violent impact during the Abu Dhabi grand prix.

The Spaniard crashed over the kerbs with such force in his duel with Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne that it triggered the alarm signalling a mandatory medical check.

The alarm is triggered when a force exceeding 15G is reached.

But Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said that although Alonso's medical light was triggered, the impact was actually lower than 15G.

Officially, however, the impact registered at over 15G, reportedly because the sensor had not been properly secured in Alonso's chassis.

"The doctors gave the all-clear," said correspondent Michael Schmidt.

But the photo emerging from the medical check were alarming, as his manager Luis Garcia Abad depicted the Ferrari driver covered with a space blanket and strapped to a spinal board.

Ferrari's post-race statement made no mention of Alonso's injuries, but the 32-year-old revealed to reporters he was suffering from "pain" in his back.

And on Monday, he told his 1.9 million fans via Twitter: "The night was so-so. I will do more tests this afternoon and try to be 100 per cent as soon as possible."

The next grand prix, in Austin in two weeks, will be the second last race of this year's 19-event calendar.

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