Fernando Alonso explains terrifying 34G smash with Kimi Raikkonen

Raikkonen, who was furious with his Ferrari team blaming a lack of communication as he failed to make it out of the first session of qualifying on Saturday, appeared to lose control of his car.

Alonso, meanwhile, ended up flying up the back of Raikkonen's car as the pair collided and smashed into the barrier.

The McLaren driver's car was shunted over the top of Raikkonen's in what looked to be a nasty crash for the pair.

Fortunately, both were okay and Alonso even offered a hand to his fellow driver as the Finn clambered out of his smashed up car

"I started very well today and made up a lot places in to Turn 1 and Turn 2,” Alonso said later.

"I was 14th or something at that point and then Kimi was on the prime tyre so he exited Turn 2 with a lot of wheelspin so the car was moving and we were all overtaking him left and right, and at one point he lost the car to the left and I was on the left.

"We both went in to the wall and I was lucky not to hit him on the head because looking at the replay I was obviously braking but my wheels were in the air.

"So I was close to him but luckily we are both fine, but it was strange.

"I was in the wrong place, it was a very strange incident because he lost the car in fifth gear or something like that. It’s strange, very low grip."

It was a frightening collision and the images showed the damage to both cars with the drivers fortunate to come away from it unscathed.

Over the radio, Alonso's panicked McLaren team-mate Jenson Button asked: "Is Fernando okay?"

He was reassured that Alonso was fine, but Button himself was forced to retire after eight laps after engine problems with his car.

Alonso later revealed the impact was measured at 34G but says he was given the all-clear after a visit to the medical centre.

"I’m OK. I went to the medical centre because it’s a mandatory check after certain Gs. Me and Kimi are both OK and that’s the important thing," he said.