Alonso airlifted to hospital

[DS240]

Fia now to probe the incident (autosport).... But it was just a normal testing accident according to Mclaren!

The lack of or just confusing information does seem odd.

[rubystone]

Sniffpetrol, as ever, has nailed it.

[dr_gn]

Whatever the real story, the McLaren marketing department must be pissing themselves at you lot. Someone has obviously figured out that by deliberately saying very little or nothing, they generate infinitiely more column inches than by dishing out constant updates. I guess they learned that from the forum jack-off frenzy over the Button contract non-event. It's genius.

[HarryW]

dr_gn said:

Whatever the real story, the McLaren marketing department must be pissing themselves at you lot. Someone has obviously figured out that by deliberately saying very little or nothing, they generate infinitiely more column inches than by dishing out constant updates. I guess they learned that from the forum jack-off frenzy over the Button contract non-event. It's genius.

I suppose that is one way to spin it in retrospect, without hindsight you just as easily and more correctly consider it inept though.....

[DS240]

dr_gn said:

Whatever the real story, the McLaren marketing department must be pissing themselves at you lot. Someone has obviously figured out that by deliberately saying very little or nothing, they generate infinitiely more column inches than by dishing out constant updates. I guess they learned that from the forum jack-off frenzy over the Button contract non-event. It's genius.

You think so?

I think it makes them look pretty bad.

The driver decision was ridiculous. A team without clear direction.

I've not really followed this crash story to intensely but it just makes the team look stupid saying there's nothing up when quite clearly it's not a straight forward incident.

Also at a time when everyone is screaming for F1 to open up to fans you have a driver in hospital and the team and management are drip feeding news which just fuels wild speculation. Very little of it which would be a sponsors dream for those coloumn inches you think they're after.

[dr_gn]

HarryW said:

dr_gn said:

Whatever the real story, the McLaren marketing department must be pissing themselves at you lot. Someone has obviously figured out that by deliberately saying very little or nothing, they generate infinitiely more column inches than by dishing out constant updates. I guess they learned that from the forum jack-off frenzy over the Button contract non-event. It's genius.

I suppose that is one way to spin it in retrospect, without hindsight you just as easily and more correctly consider it inept though.....

Hindsight? I suggested it was a non-story on page 4. I may be wrong, but either way it's a story that's almost totally irrelevant to me.

I can't see it being chronic ineptitude on McLaren's part: Which F1 team has had the most disproportionate publicity:status ratio since the end of last season? Opportunistic, but they've played the interest-starved 'fans' and wider press to perfection IMO.

[dr_gn]

hora said:

Or the McLaren lawyers urged cautious reporting?

Still it continues. Why?

McLaren gave a comprehensive statement on the incident. Further than that, why should the public be made aware of Alonso's personal medical circumstances? Who cares? It's totally irrelevant to anyone, apart from himself, his family and those with a right to know. And that certainly doesn't include a load of bored conspiracy theorists on the internet.

[rubystone]

It's not Bish's style to follow the hyperbole route though and McLaren have gone into a lot of detail. I guess time will tell.

[Justices]

Hot nurse making him realise staying in bed is the best idea for this season?

[Flying Toilet]

He could of still down shifted while semi conscious, Didn't Massa make a effort to brake when he was clobbered in the head?

[Galileo]

Potatoes said:

Sapart from the brakes?

Tyres. Tyres are fitted to the wheels sapart from the brakes

OOOhhh FFUUCCCKKKK I just made a spelling error on Pistonheads. I shall go out and hang my self immediately.

But before I do I shall elaborate on my question;

It seems odd that he obviously hit the brakes hard, but only one wheel locked up. So, was there a problem with the brakes that put him in the wall? Or, are there any energy recovery systems connected to individual wheels/hubs/brakes/driveshafts that could have failed and locked up just the one wheel?

There. I have explained myself for all the hard of thinking.
Now, where's that rope?

[andburg]

I have to say, that if there was any inkling from Mclaren/honda that this was caused by the car then they would not be out there testing at the moment.

On that basis i believe them that there was nothing wrong with the car, whether Fernando had some underlying issue himself however I'm dubious of.

I'd say that is plausible in the wake of Jules Bianchi and Felipe Massa that they now take head injuries even more seriously and have been cautious in purpose, its not like he's in the season fighting for a championship, someone else can drive.

[London424]

andburg said:

I have to say, that if there was any inkling from Mclaren/honda that this was caused by the car then they would not be out there testing at the moment.

On that basis i believe them that there was nothing wrong with the car, whether Fernando had some underlying issue himself however I'm dubious of.

I'd say that is plausible in the wake of Jules Bianchi and Felipe Massa that they now take head injuries even more seriously and have been cautious in purpose, its not like he's in the season fighting for a championship, someone else can drive.

McL press conference coming up, so I'm sure they'll be asked.

[FourWheelDrift]

London424 said:

McL press conference coming up, so I'm sure they'll be asked.

From ttter - Ron Dennis confirms Fernando Alonso was "unconscious in the car for a relatively short period of time" after his Barcelona crash

[Chrisgr31]

andburg said:

I'd say that is plausible in the wake of Jules Bianchi and Felipe Massa that they now take head injuries even more seriously and have been cautious in purpose, its not like he's in the season fighting for a championship, someone else can drive.

I think this is probably the situation. There has been a lot of press recently about impacts to the head in boxing, and rugby and I suspect other sports. As medicine advances they have probably realised that whilst the head might appear to recover quickly there may be consequences from repetitive injuries. Didn't I read somewhere that Alonsos last concussion was 18 months or so ago? They might have felt this therefore merited additional attention.

Guess we'll find out next time a driver gets concussion.

[Speed Badger]

I haven't really been following the testing much but became aware of Alonso's crash. I saw a pic of his car, I expected it to be absolutely mullered but it looks like it's barely got a scratch on it, plus I've read the speed of actual impact was around 150km/h which is quite slow for an F1 accident. 3 days in hospital, unconsciousness, retrograde amnesia - what am I missing???

[Europa1]

Speed Badger said:

3 days in hospital, unconsciousness, retrograde amnesia - what am I missing???

All of the posts which have already said much the same thing.

[andburg]

Speed Badger said:

I haven't really been following the testing much but became aware of Alonso's crash. I saw a pic of his car, I expected it to be absolutely mullered but it looks like it's barely got a scratch on it, plus I've read the speed of actual impact was around 150km/h which is quite slow for an F1 accident. 3 days in hospital, unconsciousness, retrograde amnesia - what am I missing???

the brain has larger protective fluid reserves front and back so can take a larger shock in the direction.
Alonso hit sideways where the brain is less protected so although speeds were down the rapid deceleration could have a stronger effect.

Edited by andburg on Thursday 26th February 13:32

[Graham]

Speed Badger said:

I haven't really been following the testing much but became aware of Alonso's crash. I saw a pic of his car, I expected it to be absolutely mullered but it looks like it's barely got a scratch on it, plus I've read the speed of actual impact was around 150km/h which is quite slow for an F1 accident. 3 days in hospital, unconsciousness, retrograde amnesia - what am I missing???

It was the same when mansell crashed a few years ago at Le mans... the car didnt look to bad, but they took a long time getting nige out of the car, and he's not raced anything since.

and the team beechdean-mansel was shut down pdq

[red_slr]

Hm, interesting that he has amnesia... anyway glad he will be back at the first race.