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McLaren Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso says he is still in pain but is convinced he can manage it during the remainder of the Chinese Grand Prix weekend.

The Spaniard sat out the Bahrain Grand Prix on medical advice after he fractured a rib in a violent crash in F1's season-opening race in Australia four weeks ago.

Alonso was given permission to participate in first practice in China but had to undergo further tests to determine his eligibility for the rest of the event.

Those tests were passed and he completed second practice, finishing the session 11th fastest, one position clear of team-mate Jenson Button.

"I felt good," said Alonso. "I missed the car a lot in the last 26 days so I'm happy to be back.

"There is still a little bit of pain because the rib is not completely recovered.

"The ribs are still a bit fractured but that is normal.

"It's also a circuit with a lot of long right corners, which is not a good combination.

"But it's manageable, the pain, and there is not other risk this time to be in the car so that is the positive thing."

Alonso said he has not changed anything in the car or used any extra protection for the rib as a precaution.

"No, I do not wear anything extra, I just try to be a bit more careful with movements I do when I sit in the car and jump out," he said.

"I want to avoid any silly movements which can break the rib again. It's quite OK.

"With [the] seats and comfort we have, it's quite tight, you are in this perfect shape of your body, so that is the best thing.

"It's an F1 car so it's quite stiff, every bump you feel, every kerb you feel and that is the worst thing, but I'm happy and ready to race."

Alonso spent a long time with the medical team on Thursday but said his checks on Friday were much quicker.

"Thursday was more about the scans and tests I did in Europe, that they need to see the images and check inside your body to see how the situation is," he said.

"Friday, it was just normal checks where they check blood pressure, your capacity to breathe and after being in the car check everything was normal. It was just five minutes."