Why Fernando Alonso sat out the F1 Hungarian GP FP1 with a back injury

Fernando Alonso sat out first practice at the F1 Hungarian GP as he managed a back muscle injury

Fernando Alonso is confident of completing the remainder of the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend after missing first practice due to a back muscle 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

Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

“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.”