Why Fernando Alonso sat out the F1 Hungarian GP FP1 with a back injury
On Friday morning, Aston Martin announced the two-time F1 world champion would skip the first practice session with reserve driver Felipe Drugovich standing in for the team.
Alonso opted to miss FP1 in order to manage a back muscle injury picked up at the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend, and duly returned without any major problems for second practice in Hungary.
After FP2 Alonso explained the injury and why it will not impact the rest of his race weekend.
'It is the same as yesterday, it is going to be like this the whole weekend,' he said. 'I have a small injury on my muscle at the back in the lumbar area.
'I need some rest but the summer break is coming, so it is another two days of managing the comfort in the seat.
Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin F1 Team
'Yesterday we found different solutions with air pads and other things that are working fine. So today I had no pain in FP2 so that is positive.
'Always you have small pain and discomfort here and there. The thing is that we did the MRI [scan] last week just to check properly and we saw a small injury on the muscles.
'Obviously, if you are a normal person, you will sit a little bit for two weeks. But I think it is manageable. I don't have pain in the car, which is the most important thing.'
Both Aston Martin drivers put in an impressive FP2, with Lance Stroll fourth and Alonso in fifth on the timesheet, but the Spaniard refused to look too deeply into the FP2 times.
Aston Martin delivered an updated front wing flap on its relatively new front wing package that the team introduced last weekend at Spa-Francorchamps.
'FP2 felt good,' Alonso said. 'The balance is still maybe not in the window where probably I would like the car to be. A little bit of understeer mid-corner and struggling to rotate the car on the slow speed.
'But normal for a first practice of the weekend. Let's see what we can change overnight. And also a couple of tests that the guys did in FP1. We need to review the data and put the fastest car [together] tomorrow.'
Photos from Hungarian GP - Practice
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Dettaglio tecnico Haas VF-25
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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
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Mark Webber
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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
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Dettaglio tecnico McLaren
Leo the dog
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Paul Aron, Sauber
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
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Paul Aron, Sauber
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Alexander Albon, Williams
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Paul Aron, Sauber
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin F1 Team
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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
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Alexander Albon, Williams
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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
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Read Also:
F1 Hungarian GP: Lando Norris tops FP2 ahead of Oscar Piastri
F1 Hungarian GP: Lando Norris leads McLaren 1-2 in FP1
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