Who is Felipe Drugovich? Fernando Alonso's Hungarian Grand Prix replacement
F1 is at the Hungaroring this weekend in the final race before the summer break.
However, one of the sport's biggest stars may not be racing after Aston Martin shockingly announced on Friday morning that Alonso will miss the first practice session through injury.
'In the days following the Belgian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso has been managing a muscular injury in his back,' a team statement read.
'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.'
The announcement came less than three hours before FP1 was due to begin, leaving Alonso's participation for the race in serious doubt.
The Spaniard, who celebrated his 44th birthday on Wednesday, is the oldest driver on the grid and the most experienced in F1 history with 417 grand prix entries to his name.
This season has been a struggle for the veteran and Aston Martin, with Alonso and Stroll 15th and 13th in the standings ahead of Hungary.
Aston Martin have confirmed that Drugovich will replace Alonso for FP1 and will do so for the rest of the weekend if the Spaniard is not passed fit.
Drugovich has been Aston Martin's test and reserve driver for the past four seasons and while he has driven in six practice sessions, he is yet to make his full F1 debut. More Trending
The 25-year-old won the Formula 2 championship in 2022, beating the likes of Racing Bulls star Liam Lawson and former Williams driver Logan Sargeant.
Since then, the Brazilian has taken part in only a handful of races in endurance series and Formula E.
Drugovich nearly made his F1 debut at the start of 2023 when injuries from a bike accident ruled Stroll out of pre-season testing but the Canadian recovered in time to race at the season opener in Bahrain.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
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South Wales Argus
3 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
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South Wales Guardian
3 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Rangers held to draw at Motherwell after late Emmanuel Longelo leveller
Gers skipper James Tavernier headed in from a corner in the 14th minute but Russell Martin's side never really found any rhythm. The Light Blues survived Well pressure for large spells of the second half but only until the 87th minute when Emmanuel Longelo drove in the equaliser. Rangers reached the Champions League third qualifying round by completing a 3-1 aggregate win over Panathinaikos in Athens on Wednesday but carried a fair bit of luck over the two games. And after this unimpressive display in Lanarkshire, there is clearly and understandably still work to do for Martin's side, as they try to implement his possession-based philosophy. Motherwell's new boss Jens Berthel Askou, a former team-mate of Martin at Norwich taking charge of his first league game, will be pleased by the way his side kept going when it looked like it would not be their day. Rangers could quickly fall behind champions and Old Firm rivals Celtic, who host St Mirren on Sunday, following a game that took time to warm up. In the fourth minute Well keeper Calum Ward palmed a 25-yard free-kick from Tavernier around a post and Kieran Dowell headed Joe Rothwell's corner over the crossbar. Rangers were getting their aim in. Attacker Djeidi Gassama – who started in place of Findlay Curtis in the only change – curled a shot wide after taking a pass from Brazilian striker Danilo, who then clipped the bar with a shot from 25 yards. However, it seemed all to easy for Tavernier to head in a Rothwell delivery to the back post for his 131st Gers goal, after Well skipper Paul McGinn had shanked a clearance to concede a corner. While dangerous in attack, the visitors looked fragile in defence at times – this could be a feature of their play this season – and in the 24th minute keeper Jack Butland fumbled an effort from an unmarked Longelo then blocked the shot on the rebound from striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos. Both sides were intent on playing out from the back and there were numerous turnovers but little in the way of goalmouth action, until Ward made a save from Gassama's header two minutes after the interval. Minutes later, Callum Slattery's whipped-in free-kick, after he had been fouled by Tavernier, found Elijah Just at the back post but he could not control his header and the ball went off target. Motherwell grew in confidence and Butland made a diving save from McGinn's low drive after the defender had burst into the Gers box, with John Souttar completing the clearance. Lyall Cameron and Cyriel Dessers replaced Mohamed Diomande and Danilo and debutant Cameron got booked immediately for a foul on Lukas Fadinger before he tested Ward with a 25-yard drive. At the other end, Stamatelopoulos headed over from just under the bar from a tantalising cross from Just. However, with three minutes remaining Longelo burst too easily into the Gers box and when the ball was repelled, Johnny Koutroumbis returned it into the area, Just chested it back and Longelo drilled it low past Butland for a well-deserved equaliser. And only a fine save from the Ibrox keeper in added time from substitute Tom Sparrow prevented a defeat.
Glasgow Times
4 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Rangers held to draw at Motherwell after late Emmanuel Longelo leveller
Gers skipper James Tavernier headed in from a corner in the 14th minute but Russell Martin's side never really found any rhythm. The Light Blues survived Well pressure for large spells of the second half but only until the 87th minute when Emmanuel Longelo drove in the equaliser. Rangers reached the Champions League third qualifying round by completing a 3-1 aggregate win over Panathinaikos in Athens on Wednesday but carried a fair bit of luck over the two games. And after this unimpressive display in Lanarkshire, there is clearly and understandably still work to do for Martin's side, as they try to implement his possession-based philosophy. Motherwell's new boss Jens Berthel Askou, a former team-mate of Martin at Norwich taking charge of his first league game, will be pleased by the way his side kept going when it looked like it would not be their day. Rangers could quickly fall behind champions and Old Firm rivals Celtic, who host St Mirren on Sunday, following a game that took time to warm up. In the fourth minute Well keeper Calum Ward palmed a 25-yard free-kick from Tavernier around a post and Kieran Dowell headed Joe Rothwell's corner over the crossbar. Rangers were getting their aim in. Attacker Djeidi Gassama – who started in place of Findlay Curtis in the only change – curled a shot wide after taking a pass from Brazilian striker Danilo, who then clipped the bar with a shot from 25 yards. However, it seemed all to easy for Tavernier to head in a Rothwell delivery to the back post for his 131st Gers goal, after Well skipper Paul McGinn had shanked a clearance to concede a corner. While dangerous in attack, the visitors looked fragile in defence at times – this could be a feature of their play this season – and in the 24th minute keeper Jack Butland fumbled an effort from an unmarked Longelo then blocked the shot on the rebound from striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos. Both sides were intent on playing out from the back and there were numerous turnovers but little in the way of goalmouth action, until Ward made a save from Gassama's header two minutes after the interval. Minutes later, Callum Slattery's whipped-in free-kick, after he had been fouled by Tavernier, found Elijah Just at the back post but he could not control his header and the ball went off target. Motherwell grew in confidence and Butland made a diving save from McGinn's low drive after the defender had burst into the Gers box, with John Souttar completing the clearance. Lyall Cameron and Cyriel Dessers replaced Mohamed Diomande and Danilo and debutant Cameron got booked immediately for a foul on Lukas Fadinger before he tested Ward with a 25-yard drive. At the other end, Stamatelopoulos headed over from just under the bar from a tantalising cross from Just. However, with three minutes remaining Longelo burst too easily into the Gers box and when the ball was repelled, Johnny Koutroumbis returned it into the area, Just chested it back and Longelo drilled it low past Butland for a well-deserved equaliser. And only a fine save from the Ibrox keeper in added time from substitute Tom Sparrow prevented a defeat.
