Silverstone: Crash-victim Marcus Ericsson faces a medical examination today morning to determine if he is fit enough to take part in the British Grand Prix.
The Sauber driver survived a spectacular high-speed accident during final practice yesterday morning after which he was taken to hospital in Oxford.
He returned to the circuit later yesterday after missing the qualifying.
The Swedish driver complained of feeling stiff and sore, but said he hoped he would improve overnight and be allowed to race in a rebuilt car.
“Obviously, it was a huge accident,” he said.
“I went a bit too wide on the kerb in Turn 15 and touched the grass, which was a bit wet.
“I lost the car and this was followed by a big impact with the barriers. I went to the medical centre, but, because of the impact, they wanted to send me to hospital.
“Many check-ups have been done and things are looking good. I am feeling a bit sore, but everything else is OK.
“It is obviously disappointing that I was not able to participate in qualifying, but the most important is that I am alright.
“I apologise to my car crew that I have caused them a lot of work.”
Ericsson was able to climb from his wrecked car at he exit from Stowe corner after his crash and walk away.
His team said he had gone to hospital, in Oxford, for “routine check-ups” including a CT scan.
The Swiss Sauber team has suffered from severe cash-flow problems this year, but is understood to have sufficient parts in reserve to re-build his car.
If passed fit to race, Ericsson is expected to start from the back of the grid. Meanwhile, Kimi Raikkonen sa
id he was relieved to put speculation over his future behind him, as his Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel told the team to concentrate on building stronger gearboxes.
The two Ferrari drivers were both outpaced by the Red Bull pairing as they wound up fifth and sixth in qualifying, with four-time champion Vettel taking a five-place grid penalty for taking a new gearbox.
It was the German’s third five-place penalty for the same reason this season.
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