Full green light for Alonso & tyre problems in China

Apr.15 - After returning to action on Friday, Fernando Alonso got the green light to race on throughout the entire Chinese grand prix weekend.

Following medical checks on Thursday, the FIA declared that the Spaniard would need to be checked again after driving in only the first Friday practice session.

Alonso, who sustained chest injuries in his huge crash in Melbourne, was twelfth quickest in that session before meeting with FIA medical delegate Jean-Charles Piette.

"As the driver has been cleared to take part, no further medical checks will be undertaken unless the driver presents any abnormal symptom," the governing body declared in a statement.

The first practice session in China was also notable due to some apparent Pirelli tyre failures.

Felipe Massa's Williams suffered two separate failures on his left rear, while the same corner of Kevin Magnussen's Renault was similarly affected.

The session was stopped for 30 minutes for an investigation, but Pirelli concluded that the failures were in fact "not tyre related".

Williams agreed that smoke was coming from Massa's tyre before it blew, with technical boss Pat Symonds admitting to Auto Motor und Sport: "We had a problem with the rims and we're investigating it now."

A modification was prepared for the second practice session, Williams confirmed.

Renault, meanwhile, declared on Twitter: "We're still investigating what happened on Kevin's car during FP1, and that means he won't be running in this (second) session."

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