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Alonso sits out FP1 with back injury; Drugovich steps in
Fernando Alonso was forced to sit out the first practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix while he receives treatment on a back injury, and his status for the rest of the event is unclear.
Aston Martin says Alonso has been “managing a muscular injury in his back” in the days following the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, and will not take part in FP1 at the Hungaroring while continuing treatment. Reserve driver Felipe Drugovich stepped in for Alonso during the first practice session.
The team says “a decision will then be made on Fernando’s participation in FP2 and the remainder of the weekend in due course,” with Alonso able to delay his return to the car up until qualifying if required.
Alonso finished 17th in Belgium on Sunday during what was an uncompetitive weekend for Aston Martin, bringing to an end a run of four straight races with a point-scoring finish for the double world champion.
25-year-old Drugovich won the 2022 Formula 2 title but has never started a race in Formula 1, having served as Aston Martin’s reserve driver since the end of that 2022 season.
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
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