Fernando Alonso, who has been cleared to race after passing all fitness tests for the second Formula One race of the season, is expected to make a comeback in the Malaysian Grand Prix.
The Spaniard was unlucky to miss out on the season's opener in Australia, where Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg from Mercedes finished first and second respectively with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel being the other driver in the podium.
The driver had to miss after a huge crash during a practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya, but would be trying to make amends in the Malaysian Grand Prix.
"Happy to be here in another Formula One season. I start one race later than I should be but, yeah, unfortunately I had the accident in Barcelona and following the recommendations by the doctors I missed the first race," said Alonso during Thursday's press conference.
Alonso has always been one of the drivers to look out for in the Sepang circuit, as he has won the Malaysian Grand Prix three times in his career – 2005, 2007 and 2012. Vettel has also won the GP three times like Alonso in 2010, 2011 and 2013.
Though Vettel might have had a great run in recent years at Sepang, Alonso would be eager to put his feet on the pedal and be the first person to cross the chequered flag on Sunday. He did concede that it is going to be tough this year.
"Malaysia has always been a very nice circuit for me in my Formula One career."
"My first pole position was here in 2003, my first podium and then as you said three wins with three different teams give me the possibility always to enjoy this circuit and I know it's going to be very tough this year to repeat such a result but, yeah, happy to be back in the cockpit and ready to enjoy the weekend."
The second formula one race of the season is expected to be a competitive one, but, it would not be unfair to claim Lewis Hamilton as one of the favourites, especially after the way he cruised for a win in the Australian Grand Prix.
