Alonso misses FP1 due to a back injury.

      "We modified the seat and incorporated some airbags."

      Fernando Alonso missed Friday's practice in Hungary after suffering a back injury at the Belgian GP last weekend. The 44-year-old, who is currently the oldest driver in Formula 1, sustained the injury during the Spa race and underwent an MRI scan this week, which indicated a muscular lesion on the left side of his back. While continuing his treatment Friday morning, Aston Martin announced that Alonso would not participate in FP1. The team stated, "A decision will then be made regarding Fernando’s participation in FP2 and the rest of the weekend in due time." Reserve driver Felipe Drugovich filled in for him during the session.

      Alonso returned for FP2 and informed Spanish media that the team had limited his mileage and made some adjustments for comfort. "We modified the seat and added airbags that we can inflate and deflate. They're functioning well," he mentioned. "Naturally, if you were a regular person, you’d be out for two weeks. However, I believe it’s manageable. I’m not experiencing pain in the car, which is the most crucial aspect."

      Aston Martin's trackside boss, Mike Krack, explained that the team simply wanted to allow their experienced driver more time to recuperate. "Every lap less is beneficial," he remarked. "And since we only did a comparison between the floor and the nose in the first practice session, missing it didn’t really affect us." Looking ahead to qualifying and the race, Krack expressed confidence: "We’re assured it’ll be fine. With our schedule, there isn’t much time for recovery. Sometimes there’s not even enough time to sleep because you need to travel."