Alonso reveals hand injury concerns

Fernando Alonso has revealed he has been suffering with a hand injury since being caught in a huge crash at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix, with nine races in the next 11 weeks giving the veteran little time to rest and recuperate.

With the run-in to the Formula 1 season and his World Endurance Championship commitments, Alonso is set to be a busy man until the final weeks of the year.

Making things more complicated is the pain he is suffering as a result of taking a trip over the cockpit of Charles Leclerc's Sauber at turn on of Spa-Francorchamps, having taken a shunt in the rear from Nico Hulkenberg.

Alonso's manic schedule has seen him go through similarly busy runs already this year, but he predicts this one will be even harder to manage.

"I think this is going to be a little bit more difficult just because the races are not that close," he said.

"When I did eight consecutive weekends they were Silverstone, Paul Ricard, Austria, Le Mans so they were all in the same place in Europe. Now in Japan, in Austin, Brazil, China, Abu Dhabi, I think it's going to be a little bit more demanding.

"It's going to be tough. I'm hopefully prepared and I will try to do my best."

Of his hand injury, Alonso added: "I thought that it could be OK by now but it's more or less in the same level of pain. It's strange.

"When driving I think with adrenaline and everything you don't feel it at all. In the normal day things, cleaning teeth, you feel some pain."