Hungarian GP: Fernando Alonso says second like a win for Ferrari

The Spaniard started fifth but ran a long final stint and led the race for 13 laps before losing out to the Red Bull driver.

But after fending off the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to take second place, Alonso said the risk of staying out on old tyres was the right decision.

"Just 10 laps to the end we were discussing if we stop and secure the fourth place we really needed - those points," said Alonso after the race.

"It was a difficult call: stopping and finishing fourth or keep going and risking the cliff with the tyres and finishing fourth or fifth or whatever.

"At the end we chose the right thing - stay out, defend the position as best we could and secure this second place that feels like a victory at the moment.

"It was a complex race to execute, because there were some difficulties that made the 70 laps not straightforward.

"You just need to make the decisions during the race and all of them were together with the team, and I think we did the best we could."

RAIKKONEN UNMOVED BY SIXTH

Alonso's Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen recovered from 16th on the grid to finish sixth, but the Finn said he took little satisfaction from scoring his best result of the season.

"Sixth doesn't really give me anything - I'm here to win races," said Raikkonen.

"It's good points but still nowhere near where we should be. I'm still disappointed.

"We are going in the right direction but there is still a long way to go."