Fernando Alonso

1. Who is Fernando Alonso?

Fernando Alonso is a Spanish racing driver, he was born on July 29, 1981 in Oviedo. He is currently a Formula 1 driver and plays for the Aston Martin team.

Fernando Alonso at the wheel of the Aston Martin AMR23 during its burn-in at Silverstone / © Aston Martin F1 Team

2. Fernando Alonso’s junior career

After winning everything in karting, including a World Cup in 1996, the young Fernando Alonso arrived in single-seater Formula Nissan in 1999. In an essentially European category, the Spaniard drove for Adrían Campos' team. A championship that he dominated head and shoulders, so much so that he won the title in his first year. This success allowed him to access Formula 3000 the following year. In this international category, Fernando Alonso is quick to stand out. After a checkered start to the season, Nando achieved solid performances, notably at Spa-Francorchamps, where he won the race. A meteoric rise that Flavio Briatore, at the time director of the Benetton team, quickly noticed. The Italian businessman became his manager and placed him in Formula 1 the following year.  

Fernando Alonso during Formula 3000 testing in Valencia in 2000 © Thierry Delaunay

3. Fernando Alonso’s Grand Prix (F1) journey

At the time the third youngest driver in history to debut in Formula 1, Fernando Alonso cut his teeth at the back of the pack with the Minardi team in 2001, which did not prevent him from scoring some brilliant achievements. The following year, he found himself without a seat but he was hired as a reserve driver at Renault, before becoming a starter in 2003. From the start of the season, he played with the best and even scored a first podium in Malaysia, during the 2nd round. Before signing his first career victory in Hungary, becoming the first – and still only – Spaniard to win a Formula 1 race. 

Upon his arrival in F1, he scored his first podium in Malaysia in 2003 © Éric Vagiolu /DPPI

Behind, the year 2004 was much less successful. The Bull of Asturias does not win a single race, unlike his teammate Jarno Trulli. Has the young man already reached his limits? The answer is no. Far from there. In 2005, at the wheel of an ultra-competitive Renault, Alonso crushed the first half of the championship and was crowned World Champion on the evening of the Brazilian GP. A success that he would repeat the following year, but this time against a tougher opponent: Michael Schumacher. The fight between the Red Baron and the reigning world champion was long and intense, until the Ferrari's engine failed in Japan, opening the doors to Alonso for a second consecutive title. 

As announced a year earlier, the Spaniard joined McLaren where he was associated with a young rookie: Lewis Hamilton. A season that he finished tied on points with his teammate in second place in the championship. But the internal war between the two drivers finally pushed him to terminate his contract at the end of 2007, to return to Renault. Unfortunately, the performances are no longer there and the Spaniard is having two difficult years. In 2010, he returned to Ferrari, with the tough mission of bringing the prancing horse back to the roof of the world. During his five seasons in red, Alonso finished vice-world champion three times behind Sebastian Vettel. 

The Spaniard then set out in search of a new challenge and found it with the return of Honda to F1. He once again joined McLaren for four years. An adventure which will turn into a nightmare because only the name remained for the Silver Arrows... This disappointment will even push him to skip the legendary Monaco GP, to devote himself to the Indianapolis 500. In 2018, Alonso left F1 to devote himself to other challenges. He finally returned to the grid three years later, once again reconnecting with the team that made his legend: Alpine, formerly Renault, for what appears to be the final challenge of his Formula 1 career.

Back in Formula 1, the double world champion shows that he has not returned to make up the numbers at Alpine where he is associated with Frenchman Esteban Ocon. Although he had not driven in F1 since 2018 and the end of his adventure with McLaren, Fernando Alonso was quick to get into rhythm. After abandoning the first Grand Prix of the season with the French team in Bahrain, the Spaniard born in Oviedo (Asturias) managed to finish 8 times in the points during the following 10 Grands Prix, showing that he still has the ability to be part of the Formula 1 peloton.

Forming a very complementary duo with Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso demonstrated that he still had a collective spirit during the Hungarian Grand Prix, undoubtedly the most notable moment of the season.Alpine, his first in Formula 1. His teammate leader after an incredible start to the race and a bad strategic choice from Mercedes, the Spanish driver allowed him to get his first Grand Prix victory after having shown great resistance against to Lewis Hamilton recalling the good years of the Iberian who ranked 4th under the checkerboard.

Despite an A521 below the leading cars, the double world champion does his best and signs good results for the French team, including 7 Top 10s in the last 10 rounds including a podium at the Qatar Grand Prix in November 2021 , his first since 2014.

In 2022, the Spaniard is still as aggressive as ever, but the precarious reliability of his A522 and the numerous abandonments he experiences fuel his frustration and resentment. While we expect to see it extended at Alpine, Alonso surprises everyone by heading off to Aston, where Sebastian Vettel has announced his retirement.

The end of the season will be particularly stormy between the French manufacturer and its former darling. Between shocking statements, friction with his teammate Esteban Ocon, and characteristic bad behavior, Alonso is not unhappy to turn his back on the A arrow to head for the Silverstone team (UK). The converse is undoubtedly true...

Alonso made his mark at Aston Martin from the end of season testing in Abu Dhabi / © DPPI

4. Fernando Alonso’s WEC career

If Fernando Alonso tried many other disciplines, it was in the WEC that he achieved his greatest success. In 2018, for his first participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Spaniard won the race at the wheel of the No. 8 Toyota which he shares with Kazuki Nakajima and Sébastien Buemi, two former F1 drivers. A freelance in Endurance that Fernando Alonso particularly appreciates, to the point of committing to this championship until the following year. His second victory on June 16, 2019 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans took him directly to the WEC world title, still with Toyota. In this great year, he also won the 24 hours of Daytona, aboard a Cadillac. 

Fernando Alonso, Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima, victorious at the 24 2019 Hours of Le Mans with Toyota © Antonin Vincent / DPPI

5. AUTOhebdo's opinion on Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso left his mark on the history of F1. Whether it is through his precocity, his exploits against Schumacher, his two planetary crowns with Renault, or his temperament, he is a character in his own right. Today, his great successes are mostly behind him.

This extraordinary competitor dove back with Alpine to rediscover the taste of victory and podiums. Frustrated by the lack of reliability of his new mounts, he finally decided to take on yet another new challenge in his quest for eternity and a third world title.

Still as talented and incisive behind the wheel, the Iberian hasn't changed outside the car either. For better or for worse.