Alonso unfazed despite FIA delay

Editor

Fernando Alonso isn't worried about a delay in the FIA's decision on whether he can race in China, putting it down to "procedures and paperwork."

The double World Champion suffered a pneumothorax and fractured ribs in his horrific Australian Grand Prix crash.

Despite his injuries he headed to Bahrain for round two of the championship only to be sidelined by the FIA's doctors.

He faced another medical on Thursday in the build-up to the Chinese Grand Prix and hours later was still awaiting the verdict.

Alonso, though, is unfazed by the delay.

"I don't know," he told Motorsport.com when asked why he was still waiting. "It is a question for them [the FIA] probably.

"Sometimes it is a longer process than we would like or think from the outside because there are some things behind, and some procedures and some paperwork or whatever.

"It is not that you arrive there, you are okay and we all feel okay. Still before it is written it takes a little bit of time and I guess it is the thing that has been happening.

"I was expecting the decision 10 minutes ago to sit with you and talk about something more precise, but probably it will be in the next couple of hours."

He added: "As long as this is before tomorrow 10am we will be okay."

Pressed as to whether he may yet be sidelined, the McLaren driver responded: "I don't think in that possibility at any point. I will not even think of the answer because I don't think that is possible."