Aust GP organisers dismiss boycott report

Australian Grand Prix organisers have dismissed a report of a threatened boycott by teams ahead of next week’s season-opening race.

German publication Sport Bild reported that some teams were considering the shock move in response to the mysterious circumstances surrounding McLaren-Honda driver Fernando Alonso’s crash during testing in Spain last month.

The two-time world champion spent three nights in hospital recovering from a concussion suffered when he lost control of his car and slammed into a wall at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on February 22.

Alonso has since been given a clean bill of health but, in a precautionary move, will miss the Australian Grand Prix with the Spaniard slated to return in the following race in Malaysia.

The German magazine, quoting unnamed sources, reported that teams were concerned at a lack of transparency from McLaren over the cause of the crash, with some holding safety concerns based on electrical systems associated with the car’s hybrid technology.

However, Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO Andrew Westacott poured cold water on the claims.

“We’re talking to the teams, Formula One and the FIA multiple times every day and a boycott certainly hasn’t been raised or discussed,” Westacott said.

“All the teams are coming to Melbourne; they’re excited about the start of the new season, the freight is on its way, Formula One personnel are on site at Albert Park setting up the broadcast and from our perspective it’s 100 per cent all systems go.

“We hold no fears about anything apart from containing the enthusiasm of the Australian public across the four days.”

The incident has been the subject of widespread speculation, but McLaren carried out a detailed analysis and blamed the crash on unpredictably gusty winds at that part of the circuit at the time.

“We can categorically state that there is no evidence that indicates that Fernando’s car suffered mechanical failure of any kind,” a statement posted on the team’s website the day after the crash read.

“We can also disclose that no electrical discharge or irregularity of any kind occurred in the car’s ERS system, either before, during or after the incident.

“That last point refutes the erroneous rumours that have spread recently to the effect that Fernando was rendered unconscious by an electrical fault.

“That is simply not true.”

AAP jp/ptj

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