F1: Dennis sought FIA rethink on Alonso call

McLaren chairman Ron Dennis asked the FIA to let Fernando Alonso take part in Formula 1's Bahrain Grand Prix after Friday practice, but the governing body declined the request.

Alonso was deemed not fit enough to compete this weekend by the FIA and later revealed his Australian Grand Prix crash left him with broken ribs and the risk of further lung damage.

Reserve Stoffel Vandoorne flew in from Japan, where he was taking part in Super Formula testing, as a replacement with Alonso staying to support the team.

"Dialogue between McLaren and the FIA is ongoing and to be expected," said a McLaren spokesperson. "It remains our, the FIA's and indeed Fernando's intention to prioritize his health and well-being while optimizing his chances of returning to the cockpit as soon as possible."

FIA president Jean Todt said there were no grounds for the FIA's stance to change when Dennis made his request on Friday evening, because the doctors' decision was final.

"It's a complete decision for the doctors," he told reporters in the Sakhir paddock. "From what I understand, it is a very wise decision and the doctor would never consider an authorization unless all the evidence is very clear to them."

Alonso was given the all-clear by the medical team in Melbourne after his crash, but pain in his chest increased in the following days. He had a CT scan that revealed the discovery of a small lung collapse and "some rib fractures."

Todt said in light of that, the process in which drivers are monitored following an accident requires improvement.

"We should consider going forward with a deeper check after such an accident," he said. "Maybe something we need to make sure is that the driver is followed very carefully two, three of four days after such an incident."

Originally on Autosport.com