Alonso is pleased that he chose not to miss the Hungarian Grand Prix.

      "I believe I injured my seat during the Spa race."

      Fernando Alonso remarked that participating in Hungary was "worth it," despite back pain nearly preventing him from taking part in the weekend. The 44-year-old Aston Martin driver missed FP1 due to a muscular injury sustained in the Belgian GP, prompting reserve Felipe Drugovich to step in. However, Alonso returned for FP2, completed the weekend, and surprised many with a P5 finish in qualifying.

      "Yeah, man, it's better to be in the car here and not watching it on TV during Q3 than at Spa, right?" he told Mundo Deportivo. "I could have easily missed it if we were at the back of the pack, but you never really choose that."

      An MRI earlier in the week showed he had a small tear in his lumbar muscle. "I think I injured my seat during the Spa race," he explained. "It brings me some pain or discomfort when I sit, as that position consistently strains the muscle with every bump, kerb, and corner. But it’s manageable."

      Aston Martin made slight adjustments to the cockpit to help alleviate Alonso's pain, including adding air cushions in the seat. "If you were an average person, you’d be out for two weeks," he admitted. "But I think it's manageable."

      Trackside boss Mike Krack stated the team was cautious: "Fewer laps are beneficial. We are confident everything will be fine."

      Alonso also praised recent upgrades, such as the return of the Silverstone floor and enhanced compatibility across all new components.

      "Honestly, I’m quite satisfied," he said. "The Imola floor, the Silverstone floor, and the front wing at Spa - all three have performed exactly as we expected."

      However, he acknowledged that the circuit also influenced the performance: "We haven’t changed the car much; it’s just that the layout suits our car perfectly."