After practice on Friday, Alonso, Ron Dennis and McLaren team manager Dave Redding visited race control and met with key FIA players, including medical delegate professor Jean-Charles Piette, who made the final call on Alonso's participation.

The involvement of Dennis – who doesn't have an official role on race weekends – is highly unusual, and suggests that this was very much a personal initiative by the McLaren Group chairman.

It's believed that Dennis wanted to question the protocol that led to Alonso being ruled out of the race, as he believed that the Spaniard should have been given the opportunity to drive this weekend.

A team spokesman told Motorsport.com: “Dialogue between McLaren and the FIA is ongoing and to be expected, and it remains our, the FIA's and indeed Fernando's intention to prioritise his health and well-being whilst optimising his chances of returning to the cockpit as soon as possible.”

It remains to be seen whether everyone in the McLaren camp was supportive of the route Dennis has taken, given that it could, in theory, destabilise newcomer Stoffel Vandoorne, who was expected to be in the car all weekend.