Starting from the very back of the grid after failing to set a lap in qualifying, Alonso took full advantage of the first corner chaos and subsequent red flag to move up to fourth place by the time the race resumed.

The Spaniard subsequently dropped down the order as the race progressed, but succeeded in holding off the two Williams cars and Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari to come home seventh.

It marked Alonso’s fourth points finish of the year, and catapulted McLaren ahead of Toro Rosso into sixth place in the constructors’ standings.

“It was a good race,” said the two-time world champion.

“All the bad luck we had in the weekend concentrated in good luck in the race, with the incidents we avoided.

“We found ourselves in a good position, P4, but we could not hold Sebastian [Vettel], Hamilton and Perez, they were too fast.

“P7 was good points for the team. Top 10 yesterday in qualifying with Jenson [Button] and top 10 today, on a circuit like this, was unthinkable a couple of months ago, so very good news.”

He added: “We [would not have been] able to fight with Williams at Spa some months ago, we’re moving in the right direction, that’s for sure.”

Alonso’s teammate Jenson Button started from ninth on the grid, but failed to finish after being hit from behind by Pascal Wehrlein on the opening lap.