Formula One: Alonso to miss Bahrain Grand Prix

Manama: Fernando Alonso will not take part in this weekend's Grand Prix in Bahrain for medical reasons following his dramatic crash at the Australian GP.

"Following a decision by the FIA doctors, Fernando Alonso will not be participating in this weekend’s 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix," McLaren said in a statement.

Stoffel Vandoorne, the reigning GP2 champion, will make his Formula 1 debut in place of Alonso.

FIA said that "following an examination undertaken this morning at the Bahrain International Circuit Medical Centre, it has been decided that McLaren Honda F1 Team driver Fernando Alonso should not take part in this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix".

"Two sets of chest CT scans were compared and it was decided that there was insufficient resolution of the signs to allow him to compete on safety grounds," FIA said.

"A repeat chest scan has been requested before the Chinese Grand Prix (on April 17) and the results will be considered before allowing him to race there."

Alonso's McLaren was sent into a terrifying barrel roll at the Australian GP after he clipped Esteban Gutierrez's Haas at close to 200mph.

The two-time champion, 34, crawled from the wreckage before walking away from an accident FIA president Max Mosley said would surely have been fatal in a previous era.

"Following any on-track incident, we will always abide by the FIA doctors' decisions," McLaren said after Alonso was examined in Bahrain.