Fernando Alonso 'luckiest man alive' as McLaren driver flies home after surviving horrific 200mph Australian Grand Prix crash

He was sitting pretty on Monday but Fernando Alonso knows he can count himself very fortunate to be able to do so after surviving one of the most recent spectacular crashes in Formula One history.

The two-time world champion was involved in a horrific 200mph crash on Sunday during the season-opening race at the Australian Grand Prix.

Alonso's McLaren careered into the back of Esteban Gutierrez under braking for turn three, and was merely a passenger as he slammed into the wall before barrel-rolling through the air twice.

Fernando Alonso took to Instagram on Monday to reassure everyone he's OK after suffering a horrific crash

Alonso (right) collides with Haas' Esteban Gutierrez during the F1 season-opener at the Australian Grand Prix

Mexico's Gutierrez spun out on the track before landing on the gravel - though Alonso spun out of control

Alonso was unable to avoid a heavy impact into the barriers at the Australian Grand Prix following his collision

Alonso admitted he was 'lucky to be alive' after losing control of his vehicle and smashing into the barriers

Footage shows Alonso's car flipping in mid-air but somehow he managed to walk away with no serious injuries

Alonso and his McLaren fly towards another barrier at high speed during F1's opening race on Sunday

Alonso, the Spanish driver, miraculously escaped the dramatic crash and climbed out of his McLaren car

Alonso climbs out of his McLaren and watches on with shock as Gutierrez remains seated in his Haas car

Australian paper The Herald Sun, led with the headline 'Luckiest Man Alive' in the publication of Monday's edition - something Alonso light-heartedly acknowledged on Instagram.

The 34-year-old posted a picture of himself reading The Herald Sun on Monday as prepared to leave the country.

'Time to take the plane and rest couple of days for a full recovery,' he captioned the Instagram post with.

'Thanks to all of you!! #suerte #luckyman #seeYouNextYearAustralia.'

Alonso's crash had the F1 world holding it's breath at Melbourne Park on Sunday.

After spiraling in mid-air, the impact of the collision left the Spaniard's car without all four tyres and much of its bodywork decorating the circuit.

The accident, which caused the action to be red-flagged for 20 minutes, is understood to have impacted at 46g - an aerobatic display team operate between 9g and 12g - yet he was left with nothing more than bruised knees. 

'I am lucky to be here and thankful to be here,' said Alonso on Sunday who came out of the car upside down. 'It was a scary moment and a scary crash.

'When I stopped I saw a little space to get out of the car and I went out quickly just to make sure that my mum, who was watching the race on TV at home, could see that I was okay.'

Gutierrez, who ended up backwards in the gravel, went over to Alonso to shake his hand before both drivers were whisked off to the medical centre.

Gutierrez eventually climbs out after escaping unscathed too as Alonso takes a moment to get his breath back

The Formula One drivers embrace in a hug (left) before leaving the track to receive medical treatment

The Spaniard (centre) talks with race officials after the crash during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix

The two-time world champion was in shock following his dramatic crash but fortunately escaped unscathed

The 34-year-old Spaniard acknowledges the crowd while he is applauded for climbing out of his wrecked car

In testament to the sport's remarkable safety standards both drivers were promptly given the all-clear. The stewards investigated the crash, but found neither driver to be at fault.

'You are not exactly aware where you are,' Alonso, 34, said reflecting on the incident.

'You are just flying and then you see the sky, the ground, the sky, the ground and you don't know.

'Then I didn't know where I was because I was so far from the track. Everything happened slower than on the outside.

'You want to stop and it doesn't stop, it keeps going and going and going. It was quite scary.' 

The wreckage of Alonso's McLaren car by the side of the track following the collision during Sunday's race

His car was removed from the gravel with the help of a track official and the race was briefly brought to a halt

To the relief of everyone, Alonso was later pictured walking around his team garage during the race