Fernando Alonso suffered collapsed lung, broken ribs

Fernando Alonso is sitting out the Bahrain Grand Prix with broken ribs and after suffering a partially collapsed lung.

The Spaniard made the revelation after FIA doctors studied CT scans and ordered him out of the McLaren-Honda this weekend.

Alonso told reporters that he suffered a "pneumothorax", or partially collapsed lung, due to the G-forces of his high-speed crash in Melbourne.

However, he said that is no longer a problem and he is not suffering any "respiratory problems", but ribs on the left side of his chest are broken.

He will now bid to recover in time for China.

"It's not 100%," Alonso said of his chances. "It will be another test I need to do in the next eight to ten days.

"I was ready to go through the pain somehow and make sure I could race, or at least try, but the first thing is safety and so I understand [the decision]."

McLaren's reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne will compete in Bahrain in Alonso's place.