Fernando Alonso misses out in Bahrain

Fernando Alonso has been ruled out of the Bahrain Grand Prix amid concerns he could suffer a punctured lung.

The 34-year-old, who sustained fractured ribs at last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix in one of the most spectacular Formula One smashes in recent times, failed a medical test at Bahrain’s Sakhir Circuit yesterday, and his participation at the next race in China in a fortnight’s time is also under threat.

Belgian’s Stoffel Vandoorne, the untested McLaren reserve driver, has jetted in from Japan to deputise for the two-time world champion.