Formula 1 fans witnessed an unexpected twist ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix as Aston Martin confirmed Fernando Alonso would sit out the first practice session due to a muscular back injury, paving the way for reserve driver Felipe Drugovich to step into the AMR23.
Aston Martin released a statement detailing that the two-time world champion had been managing a muscular injury in his back since the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. As a precautionary measure and to continue with his treatment, Alonso opted to forgo the initial Friday morning session at the Hungaroring.
This marks the second occasion this year that the reigning Formula 2 champion, Felipe Drugovich, has taken the wheel of Alonso’s car during an FP1 session. He previously drove the Spaniard’s machine in Bahrain, fulfilling part of the team’s mandatory requirement to provide track time for inexperienced drivers across four Grand Prix weekends throughout the season.
While the initial announcement suggested a more serious concern, Aston Martin has since clarified that Fernando Alonso’s injury is not severe. Drugovich’s participation is primarily a precautionary measure, with strong expectations that Alonso will be fit and ready to resume his duties from the second practice session onwards for the remainder of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
The team’s confidence in Alonso’s swift recovery is evident, as deploying Drugovich – whose last competitive race in Formula 2 was in November 2022 – suggests they anticipate the senior driver will return quickly. If there were significant doubts about Alonso’s fitness for qualifying or the race, a different strategy might have been employed.
Teams are mandated by the FIA to inform the governing body at least seven days in advance regarding which driver will participate in specific sessions during a Grand Prix event. This regulation ensures proper planning and adherence to sporting directives.
Despite Drugovich’s previous outing in Alonso’s car, it’s unlikely this FP1 appearance will count towards Aston Martin’s obligation for a second young driver session. Teams are generally required to provide a young driver an FP1 slot with each car, meaning a separate session is still needed for Lance Stroll’s car to fulfill the full quota for the season.
This unexpected driver change adds an intriguing layer to the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, as all eyes will now be on Fernando Alonso’s recovery and Felipe Drugovich’s performance in his limited track time. The incident underscores the demanding physical nature of Formula 1 and the critical role of reserve drivers.
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