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FORMULA 1

Alonso walks away from 310km/h crash in Australia

The Spanish McLaren driver clipped wheels with Esteban Gutiérrez's Haas in Melbourne and smashed into a barrier, leaving his car in pieces.

Update:
Fernando Alonso emerges from the wreck of his car in Australia.
Theo KaranikosAP

Fernando Alonso walked away from a spectacular crash that left his smashed McLaren scattered across the Albert Park circuit and brought a halt to the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Alonso's right wheel clipped Esteban Gutierrez's Haas at high speed going into turn three of the 18th lap and the impact sent the Spaniard's McLaren careening into a barrier, smashing it to pieces, before it flipped, rolled and flew end-over-end into another barrier.

The two-time world champion emerged from the wreckage and walked gingerly over to Mexican Gutierrez where the pair embraced.

"We believe he's OK. I'm sure his marbles are rattled a little bit," McLaren chairman Ron Dennis told Sky Sports.

Fernando Alonso, left, and Esteban Gutierrez after the collision.
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Fernando Alonso, left, and Esteban Gutierrez after the collision.Theo KaranikosAP

The race was suspended as track staff swept debris away, bringing the rest of the cars back to pit before it resumed at 4:55 p.m. local time (05.55 GMT) following a lap with the safety car.

Race control said the incident would be investigated. Haas boss Gene Haas told Sky Sports: "It looked like Alonso was trying to overtake Esteban and just got squeezed and ran out of room and the tyres made contact and Alonso went for a hell of a ride."