Alonso thinks his medical issues are "manageable" at the Hungaroring

Having missed the opening practice due to back injuries, Aston Martin's two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso thinks that his medical issues will be "manageable" over the rest of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso was forced to miss the opening practice at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix due to a "muscular injury in his back."

The Spaniard was unable to take part in the opening one-hour practice session at the Hungaroring due to a "muscular injury in his back" which developed after the Belgian GP.

Aston Martin issued a short statement on Friday morning, confirming that Alonso would continue to receive treatment. Former Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich, who acts as the Silverstone-based team's reserve driver, replaced Alonso in FP1.

"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," the team stated.

"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."

Following the opening practice, the British outfit confirmed Alonso will return to action for the second practice session.

Having delivered a strong performance in the second practice session, Alonso sounded a confident note, claiming that his medical issues will be manageable over the rest of the Budapest weekend.

“The thing is that we did an MRI last week just to check properly, and we saw a small injury in the muscle. So if you are a normal person, you would sit a little bit for two weeks, but I think it is manageable. I don’t have pain in the car, which is the main thing.

"We have found some solutions to help manage it and I had no pain in FP2, so that’s a positive. Obviously I missed FP1, but FP2 felt good in the car."

Turning to the improved performance of Aston Martin in the early phase of the weekend, Alonso said: “Obviously, I missed FP1, but FP2 felt good.

"The balance is still not in the window where I would probably like the car to be. There’s a bit of understeer mid-corner, and I struggled to rotate the car on low speed, but normal for a first practice of the weekend.

“Let’s see what we can change overnight. A couple of tests that the guys did in FP1, we need to review the data and put together the fastest car for tomorrow.”