Alonso gets provisional clearance to compete in China

Fernando Alonso has been declared provisionally fit to race in China this weekend following a thorough examination by the FIA medical team.

However, the McLaren driver will have to undergo further checks after Friday's first practice session in order to determine whether he will be passed to participate in the remainder of the Shanghai event.

Having been forced to sit out in Bahrain, Alonso's place on the China grid has been in doubt due to the nature of the lung and rib injuries he suffered in his massive crash in Australia.

The Spaniard insists he feels 100 percent physically, but agreed that only by getting in the car will he - and officials - ultimately be able to judge his ability to compete.

“F1 is a very unique sport - it doesn't matter what activity you do before racing, with the unique position I am sitting in, with the G-forces, everything can change in the car,” he said. “So after the first couple of laps I will feel if I am okay from my side. And if it is okay from their side. That is the logical thing to follow.”

Should he receive the go-ahead to race, Alonso will maintain his record of having competed in every Chinese Grand Prix since it joined the Formula One calendar in 2004. He has won at the venue twice - the only man other than Lewis Hamilton to have triumphed more than once in Shanghai.

McLaren scored their first points of the season last time out in Bahrain, thanks to Alonso's replacement Stoffel Vandoorne - the reigning GP2 champion - finishing 10th on his Grand Prix debut. Vandoorne is again on standby in China.