From thejudge13.com
A mystery of three seconds
Although several media outfits, including Sky Italia and Spains El Mundo are still not convinced that the electric shock theory is dead, first informations from F1s second most credible source after Ron Dennis the FIA deny that Alonso could have been zapped by the cars high capacity batteries.
Although El Mundo claims that the Honda PU has only three safety mechanisms to safeguard its electric systems, as opposed to five on the competing designs, it would still take failure of all three for Alonso to receive an electric shock. According to FIA this hasnt happen as the indicator shows all electric systems in operation as long as the car moves and switches to green ten seconds after the car has become stationary.
Immediately after the accident Sebastian Vettel, who was driving behind Alonso, had reported that it had not looked like an accident. At a suspected speed of about 150kph Alonso seemed to veer right suddenly. The German called the scene strange. After he had been to the McLaren garage, he changed his tune, claiming he had not been close enough to see more than the end of the accident.
An analysis of the so far available FIA data done by Auto Motor und Sport, however, confirms Vettels initial version. The telemetry shows that Alonso enters the Renault corner at a speed of 215kph, which Sky Britain had falsely reported as the speed at which Alonso had lost control of the car.
At the corner entry Alonso applied full breaking power and shifted down three times, decelerating the car to a speed of 135kph, close to the speed that Vettel had estimated. The reasons for Alonsos sudden deceleration are unclear, however such a strong breaking manoeuvre would not be needed in case of aerodynamic interference by wind.
At a speed at 135kph the car sharply changes direction towards the inside of the corner by direct steering input from the driver, who from that point on is no longer in control of the car. After veering right, the car travels towards the wall in a time of three seconds where it impacts at a speed of 105 kph.
During those 3 seconds between leaving the normal racing line and hitting the wall, the driver appears to take no measures to avert or lessen the severity of the impact, as manifested by the absence of any further steering input and the fact that the car loses a mere 30kph of speed in that time.
McLaren insist they cannot say what had happened in those three seconds and the man who could has no recollection of the event. Ron Dennis admitted that Alonso had lost consciousness for a short time, but did not specify whether that was before or after the impact.
It appears that the solution to the mystery lies within those three seconds between veering off and impacting the wall, but so far nobody is able to tell what happened. This could well explain Alonsos prolonged hospital stay and his cancelling of the Australia start.
If the Spaniard suffered any medical condition that rendered him unconscious before the impact, as the data seem to suggest, it would be irresponsible to to return, before it has been found out what it was.