Alonso fit for Malaysian Grand Prix

SEPANG - Fernando Alonso passed a final medical examination yesterday and will be able to take part in the Malaysian Grand Prix this weekend, after the Spaniard missed the Formula One season-opener in Australia due to concussion.

The double world champion was sidelined following a winter-testing crash in Barcelona last month. At the end of last season, he left Ferarri for McLaren, where he spent one unhappy season in 2007.

Alonso flew to Malaysia after coming through tests by three eminent doctors at Cambridge University on Sunday, and then passed the official examination by the governing body's medical delegate and the Sepang Circuit's chief medical officer.

"During the examination, the driver passed all mandatory fitness tests and has thus been declared fit to race in this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix," the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement.

Considered one of the most skilful drivers in F1, Alonso will need to be at his very best around the Hermann Tilke-designed track to have any chance of picking up points on his return to racing for a team that fared poorly in Australia.

Struggling for pace and reliability with the new Honda engine, teammate Jenson Button crawled around Albert Park to cross the line last of the 11 finishers, while Alonso's stand-in Kevin Magnussen failed to start the race due to engine issues.

"I've been working hard on my fitness - I feel good and ready to go this weekend," Alonso said prior to his departure for Malaysia.

"The weekend will be tough, but I'm looking forward to getting into the MP4-30 for the first time in a Grand Prix and getting back to racing.

"It's clear we have a lot of work ahead of us but Jenson's result in Melbourne was encouraging from the point of view of reliability and data collection, which are extremely important."

Williams driver Valtteri Bottas has also been cleared to race in Malaysia after the Finn missed the Australian opener because of a back injury.