Formula 1 championship leader Fernando Alonso has insisted that the team's fifth- and ninth-place finishes at the Hungarian Grand Prix ensure that the weekend was positive for Ferrari.

Despite not finishing high in the points, Alonso importantly placed ahead of closest rival Mark Webber of Red Bull and he has highlighted this as an important achievement.

"It's a positive result, no doubt about it. We knew this would be a complicated weekend because we were not quick enough, but despite everything, we managed to extend our lead over Webber," f1technical.net quotes Alonso as saying.

"In terms of the championship it has therefore been a very good weekend. To have finished ahead of one Red Bull and right behind the other in these circumstances was very important."

Alonso has won three Grands Prix this season.