Early Years and Ascension to Formula One
Fernando Alonso Díaz, born on 29 July 1981 in Oviedo, Asturias, Spain, commenced his journey in motorsports at a remarkably young age. His karting career began at the tender age of three and swiftly progressed through local, national, and international successes. This early exposure to racing laid the foundation for his transition to car racing at 17. His noteworthy achievements during this period include winning the Euro Open by Nissan in 1999 and securing the fourth position in the International Formula 3000 Championship of 2000. These victories paved the way for his Formula One debut with Minardi in 2001, subsequently leading to his role as a test driver for Renault in 2002.
Formula One Triumphs
Alonso’s meteoric rise in Formula One is marked by a series of historic milestones. In 2003, he was promoted to a Renault race seat, leading to his first Formula One World Drivers’ Championship victories in 2005 and 2006. These wins not only crowned him as the youngest pole-sitter and race winner but also as the youngest world champion and two-time champion in Formula One at that time. His tenure with Renault was followed by a challenging period with McLaren in 2007, where he narrowly missed the championship. Alonso then returned to Renault in 2008 and 2009, achieving notable successes. His subsequent move to Ferrari from 2010 to 2014 saw him finish as runner-up in three seasons. After an unfruitful second stint with McLaren from 2015 to 2018, Alonso took a sabbatical from Formula One, only to make a remarkable comeback with Alpine in 2021.
Achievements Beyond Formula One
Alonso’s illustrious career extends beyond Formula One. With Toyota, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice (in 2018 and 2019) and the FIA World Endurance Championship in the 2018-19 season. In 2019, he also clinched victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona with Wayne Taylor Racing. As of 2023, he is the only driver to have won both the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship and the World Endurance Championship. His career is further decorated with 32 Grand Prix wins, 22 pole positions, and a total of 2267 points from 377 starts, making him the only Spanish Formula One driver to have won the World Championship. Alonso has also been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports and has been inducted twice into the FIA Hall of Fame.
Career Stats
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Formula One World Championship Career | |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| 2023 Team | Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes |
| Car Number | 14 |
| Entries | 380 (377 starts) |
| Championships | 2 (2005, 2006) |
| Wins | 32 |
| Podiums | 106 |
| Career Points | 2267 |
| Pole Positions | 22 |
| Fastest Laps | 24 |
| First Entry | 2001 Australian Grand Prix |
| First Win | 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix |
| Last Win | 2013 Spanish Grand Prix |
| Last Entry | 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
| 2023 Position | 4th (206 pts) |
| FIA World Endurance Championship Career | |
| Debut Season | 2018–19 |
| Car Number | 8 |
| Former Teams | Toyota Gazoo Racing |
| Starts | 8 |
| Championships | 1 (2018–19) |
| Wins | 5 |
| Poles | 4 |
| IndyCar Series Career | 2 races run over 3 years |
| Team(s) | No. 66 (Arrow McLaren SP) |
| 2020 Position | 31st |
| Best Finish | 21st (2017) |
| First Race | 2017 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) |
| Last Race | 2020 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans Career | |
| Years | 2018–2019 |
| Teams | Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe GmbH |
| Best Finish | 1st (2018, 2019) |
| Class Wins | 2 (2018, 2019) |