Photo: Fox Sports
...'Walks away unscathed'
He was sitting pretty on Monday but Fernando Alonso knows he can count himself very fortunate to being do so after surviving one of the most recent spectacular crashes in Formula One history.Details after cut .....
The two-time world champion was
involved in a horrific 200mph crash on Sunday during the season-opening
race at the Australian Grand Prix.
Alonso's McLaren careered into the back
of Esteban Gutierrez under braking for turn three, and was merely a
passenger as he slammed into the wall before barrel-rolling through the
air twice.
Fernando Alonso took to Instagram on Monday to reassure everyone he's OK after suffering a horrific crash
Alonso (right) collides with Haas' Esteban Gutierrez during the F1 season-opener at the Australian Grand Prix
Mexico's Gutierrez spun out on the track before landing on the gravel - though Alonso spun out of control
Alonso was unable to avoid a heavy impact into the barriers at the Australian Grand Prix following his collision
Alonso admitted he was 'lucky to be alive' after losing control of his vehicle and smashing into the barriers
Footage shows Alonso's car flipping in mid-air but somehow he managed to walk away with no serious injuries
Alonso and his McLaren fly towards another barrier at high speed during F1's opening race on Sunday
Photo: Fox AP
Alonso, the Spanish driver, miraculously escaped the dramatic crash and climbed out of his McLaren car
Alonso climbs out of his McLaren and watches on with shock as Gutierrez remains seated in his Haas car
Australian paper The Herald Sun, led
with the headline 'Luckiest Man Alive' in the publication of Monday's
edition - something Alonso light-heartedly acknowledged on Instagram.
The 34-year-old posted a picture of himself reading The Herald Sun on Monday as prepared to leave the country.
'Time to take the plane and rest couple of days for a full recovery,' he captioned the Instagram post with.
'Thanks to all of you!! #suerte #luckyman #seeYouNextYearAustralia.'
Alonso's crash had the F1 world holding it's breath at Melbourne Park on Sunday.
After spiraling in mid-air, the impact
of the collision left the Spaniard's car without all four tyres and
much of its bodywork decorating the circuit.
The accident, which caused the action
to be red-flagged for 20 minutes, is understood to have impacted at 46g
- an aerobatic display team operate between 9g and 12g - yet he was
left with nothing more than bruised knees.
'I am lucky to be here and thankful to be here,' said Alonso on Sunday who came out of the car upside down. 'It was a scary moment and a scary crash.
'When I stopped I saw a little space to
get out of the car and I went out quickly just to make sure that my
mum, who was watching the race on TV at home, could see that I was
okay.'
Gutierrez, who ended up backwards in
the gravel, went over to Alonso to shake his hand before both drivers
were whisked off to the medical center.
Gutierrez eventually climbs out after escaping unscathed too as Alonso takes a moment to get his breath back
The Formula One drivers embrace in a hug (left) before leaving the track to receive medical treatment
The Spaniard (centre) talks with race officials after the crash during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix
The two-time world champion was in shock following his dramatic crash but fortunately escaped unscathed
The 34-year-old Spaniard acknowledges the crowd while he is applauded for climbing out of his wrecked car
In testament to the sport's remarkable
safety standards both drivers were promptly given the all-clear. The
stewards investigated the crash, but found neither driver to be at
fault.
'You are not exactly aware where you are,' Alonso, 34, said reflecting on the incident.
'You are just flying and then you see the sky, the ground, the sky, the ground and you don't know.
'Then I didn't know where I was because I was so far from the track. Everything happened slower than on the outside.
'You want to stop and it doesn't stop, it keeps going and going and going. It was quite scary.'
The wreckage of Alonso's McLaren car by the side of the track following the collision during Sunday's race
His car was removed from the gravel with the help of a track official and the race was briefly brought to a halt
Photo: AP
To the relief of everyone, Alonso was later pictured walking around his team garage during the race
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