McLaren F1 driver Fernando Alonso has been ruled out of this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix on medical grounds.

The two-time world champion was involved in a heavy crash at the opening race of the season in Australia nearly two weeks ago.

The decision was made after the governing body, the FIA, compared two CT scans of his chest.

"Following an examination undertaken this morning at the Bahrain International Circuit Medical Centre, it has been decided that McLaren Honda F1 Team driver Fernando Alonso should not take part in this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix. Two sets of chest CT scans were compared and it was decided that there was insufficient resolution of the signs to allow him to compete on safety grounds," they said.

"A repeat chest scan has been requested before the Chinese Grand Prix, and the results will be considered before allowing him to race there."

Reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne will take Alonso's place.