Fernando Alonso returns to training after F1 star was declared medically unfit to race at the Bahrain Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso has stepped up his return to Formula One duty after the McLaren driver was denied his spot on the grid for last Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Spaniard was declared medically unfit by the FIA last Thursday following his Melbourne horror crash in the season-opening race.

The two-time champion flew to the Middle East confident of being given the all-clear to race, but was prevented from competing on safety grounds after a 90-minute examination.

Fernando Alonso has stepped up his return to Formula One duty after missing out on the Bahrain Grand Prix

The two-time world champion was declared medically unfit to race at the weekend's race in the Middle East

However the 34-year-old has stepped up his return to full fitness ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, which he hopes to race in.

Alonso posted an Instagram snap, where he looked in great shape, and captioned it: 'Return to the training, in the next few days I hope to do also cycling and swim. Step by step.'

In the picture, the McLaren star could be seen taking part in a training session while wearing a barely-there white vest. 

‎Alonso, 34, crashed at 200mph - and 46g - at the Australian Grand Prix - his McLaren car barrel-rolling twice before hitting the tyre wall.

The Spaniard was a spectator at the weekend in the McLaren garage after being denied his spot on the grid

‎Alonso's McLaren car barrel-rolled twice before hitting the tyre wall as the Spaniard crashed at 200mph

The Spaniard got out of the car unaided and embraced in a hug with Haas' Esteban Gutierrez, who collided with Alonso. 

He later complained of little more than bruised knees and ribs but it emerged he sustained fractured ribs in his enormous shunt at the season-opening race and was a spectator in Bahrain.

But the Spaniard appears to have put his disappointment behind him as he gears up for the third Grand Prix of the season.

Alonso got out of the car unaided - he was examined by doctors last week in Bahrain and failed the test

Alonso, pictured with Esteban Gutierrez after the crash, limped as he arrived for his medical appointment