Aston Martin Formula One driver Fernando Alonso has broken his silence on the back injury that caused him to stay out of the first practice session yesterday.
His team announced ahead of FP1 that Alonso would be absent for the session. Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich took his place in the AMR25 F1 car instead. The team stated:
“In the days following the Belgian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso has been managing a muscular injury in his back. As he continues with treatment this morning, he has chosen to sit out of FP1.
“Felipe Drugovich will drive in FP1 alongside Lance Stroll. A decision will then be made on Fernando’s participation in FP2 and the remainder of the weekend in due course.”
While the Spaniard was back in the second practice session, he has now opened up on the injury, stating that an MRI scan helped him detect it the previous week. He said at the Hungaroring:
“Yeah, always. Always you have small pain and discomfort here and there. The thing is that we did the MRI last week just to check properly and we saw a small, small injury on the muscles.”
Alonso highlighted that the injury is severe enough for a normal person to need extended rest, but given the absence of pain when he is in his F1 car, the 44-year-old driver confirmed that he would be able to race. He said:
“Obviously, if you are a normal person, you will sit a little bit for two weeks. But yeah, I think it is manageable. I don’t have pain in the car, which is the most important thing.”
The AMR25 has been fitted with a new front wing. When asked about his feedback on the new part, Alonso said:
“Obviously, I missed FP1, but FP2 felt good. 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 yeah, normal for a first practice of the weekend. Let’s see what we can change overnight. And also, yes, a couple of tests that the guys did in FP1.”
Alonso finished P5 in FP2, one position behind his teammate Lance Stroll in P4. Could this be the race weekend where Aston Martin bounces back with the help of performance enhancements?
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