Today, Fernando Alonso turns 44 today. He was only four years old when he began karting, using a kart built by his father two years earlier. Very quickly, the Spanish Formula 1 legend driver showed impressive skill behind the wheel.
By 1988, he was already collecting trophies, including the 1990 Asturias championship, which he won with a clean sweep, triumphing in all eight rounds of the season. He went on to win the cadet title in 1991, and the Spanish junior titles in 1993 and 1994.
In 1995, he claimed the Spanish championship and finished third in the World Championship, which he would win the following year. Fernando stayed in karting until 1998, before moving to the Telefonica Nissan Open Championship, which he won in his debut season with six victories.
In 2000, he joined the Formula 3000 championship with the Astromega team. He ended the season with a victory at the challenging Spa-Francorchamps circuit and an impressive fourth place in the standings.
Formula 1 debut
Spotted by Flavio Briatore, the Italian sporting director took Alonso under his wing and placed him in a test role at Minardi. He was promoted to a full-time seat for the 2001 season at just 19 years and 7 months old, making him the fifth-youngest F1 driver in history.
Despite driving a far-from-competitive car, Alonso impressed with his performances, even if he didn’t score points. Briatore was convinced, promoting him to test driver at Renault for 2002, with the promise of a full-time seat in 2003.
Briatore kept his word. In 2003, Alonso returned to the F1 grid with Renault. At the Malaysian Grand Prix, he became the youngest pole-sitter in history and finished third. His breakthrough came with victory at the Hungaroring, becoming the youngest F1 race winner at the time, even lapping Michael Schumacher.
In 2004, although Ferrari dominated, Alonso consistently scored points and finished fourth in the championship, despite disappointments like crashing out in Monaco and Monza while in contention for victory.
2005: Fernando Alonso Formula 1 World Champion
In 2005, Alonso began the season strongly, winning three consecutive races after a podium in Australia. With Ferrari struggling, his main rival became Kimi Räikkönen in the rapid but unreliable McLaren. Alonso's consistency and Renault's reliability allowed him to clinch his first world title at the Brazilian GP.
Thus becoming the youngest world champion in F1 history at 24 years, 1 month, and 27 days. He capped the season with a seventh victory in China, also securing the Constructors’ title for Renault.
Amid controversy, Alonso announced a move to McLaren for 2007. Wearing the number 1, he started 2006 strong, with six wins and three second places in the first half of the season, dominating Schumacher.
But FIA’s ban on Renault's mass damper system, a wheel nut error in Hungary, and an engine failure at Monza allowed Schumacher to catch up. Tied on points after China, Alonso prevailed in Japan when Schumacher’s engine blew. A comfortable drive in Brazil earned him a second consecutive world title.
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Tensions at McLaren
Alonso joined McLaren in 2007 alongside rookie Lewis Hamilton. Initially, the season started well—Alonso won in Malaysia and Monaco and led the standings. But Hamilton's stellar debut rattled him.
Tensions escalated when Alonso accused Ron Dennis of favouring Hamilton. The infamous qualifying incident in Hungary, where Alonso blocked Hamilton, worsened the situation.
Amid a spying scandal involving Ferrari data, Alonso testified against McLaren, revealing he had received confidential Ferrari information. The team was expelled from the Constructors’ Championship.
Despite a win at Monza and a podium at Spa, Alonso crashed out in Japan, and Hamilton’s errors in China kept the title open. Ultimately, Räikkönen snatched the title in Brazil. Alonso and Hamilton ended equal on points, with Alonso ranked third by countback.
Return to Renault
After his turbulent year at McLaren, Alonso returned to Renault in 2008. The R28 was initially uncompetitive, and Alonso struggled for points. Mid-season improvements brought strong form.
At Singapore, a lucky safety car helped him win a result later tainted by the 'Crashgate' scandal. He added a dominant win in Japan and finished fifth in the championship.
In 2009, despite thinking of leaving, Alonso stayed with Renault. The R29 was uncompetitive, though Alonso grabbed pole in Hungary. His season was marred by errors, mechanical issues, and the fallout of Crashgate. He ended the year ninth in the standings.
In 2010, Alonso joined Ferrari and won the season opener in Bahrain. After mid-season struggles, he mounted a strong comeback with wins in Germany, Italy, Singapore, and Korea. He led the championship entering the final race in Abu Dhabi, but Ferrari’s strategic error - pitting to cover Webber- trapped Alonso behind Petrov. He finished seventh, losing the title to Vettel.
Near miss with Ferrari
In 2011, with an uncompetitive Ferrari, Alonso still delivered. He took a victory at Silverstone and finished fourth overall, miles behind Vettel, but ahead of Webber and Button in a car clearly less capable.
Despite poor qualifying in Australia, he finished fifth and won in Malaysia and Valencia. By mid-season, he led the championship. However, crashes in Belgium and Japan, and Vettel’s late surge, set up a title showdown in Brazil. Vettel recovered from last place to sixth; Alonso finished second. Vettel won the title by three points.
In 2013, Alonso won in China and Spain but couldn’t keep pace with Vettel, who won nine races in a row to take the title. Alonso finished runner-up again.
By 2014, frustration peaked. Ferrari’s form dipped, and Alonso managed only two podiums all year. After the US GP, he announced his departure. Though sixth in the standings, he comfortably beat teammate Räikkönen. In a shock move, Alonso returned to McLaren for 2015, now powered by Honda.
McLaren-Honda Struggles and Temporary Exit
In 2015, reliability and pace were abysmal. Alonso suffered a concussion in testing and missed the Australian GP. He only scored points twice, ending the season 17th—his worst result since 2001.
In 2016, a huge crash in Australia sidelined him for Bahrain. He scored more points than in 2015, with fifth-place finishes in Monaco and Austin as highlights.
The 2017 season began poorly with four straight retirements. Alonso skipped Monaco to race at the Indy 500, where he led before his Honda engine failed. He scored points in Baku and finished sixth in Hungary.
In 2018, while still with McLaren, Alonso joined Toyota in the World Endurance Championship. He started the F1 season well but later struggled with reliability and retired from F1 at the end of the year. He finished 11th in the standings.
Sabbatical from Formula 1
In 2019, Alonso failed to qualify for the Indy 500 but won Le Mans again and claimed the WEC title with Toyota. He later raced in cross-country rallies, including the Dakar in 2020, finishing 13th.
With Sainz moving to Ferrari and Ricciardo to McLaren, Renault confirmed Alonso’s return for 2021. Back with Renault (now Alpine) in 2021, Alonso impressed.
In Hungary, he helped teammate Ocon win by holding off Hamilton for ten laps in a brilliant defensive drive. He finished on the podium in Qatar—his first since 2014—and beat teammate Ocon in the standings.
In 2022, Alonso was plagued by mechanical failures and on-track run-ins with Ocon. Frustrated, he announced a move to Aston Martin following Vettel’s retirement.
In 2023, Aston Martin started strong. Alonso scored three consecutive podiums, added more in Monaco, Canada, Zandvoort, and São Paulo, and finished fourth in the championship.
Aston Martin Resurgence
In 2024, despite a promising start including a front-row in China, Aston Martin struggled. Alonso finished the year ninth in the standings, with no podiums.
Alonso's 2025 Formula 1 season with Aston Martin was challenging, marked by a point-less start, his worst since 2001. The two-time world champion, struggled with an uncompetitive car, finishing 17th in the drivers' championship after 10 races.
Mechanical issues, including a power unit failure in Monaco, led to three DNFs. Despite teammate Lance Stroll scoring 14 points, Alonso's best results were in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, finishing seventh and ninth.
With Adrian Newey joining Aston Martin, Alonso remains optimistic for 2026, focusing on the upcoming regulation changes.
Newey will provide the the last chance for Alonso
With an embarrassingly bad Aston Martin AMR25 doing him no favours this season, Alonso appears to be playing the long game at Aston Martin, effectively marking time in 2025 as the team places all its chips on the 2026 Formula 1 regulations and Adrian Newey’s first car for the team.
While the current AMR25 struggles, Newey is focused entirely on developing the 2026 challenger, already shaping its core design elements like suspension layout and chassis geometry.
Alonso has acknowledged that Newey didn’t design this year’s car and supports the decision to skip major 2025 upgrades to avoid compromising 2026 potential. The two-time World Champion has praised Newey’s influence, saying the entire team is “learning” from the design legend.
While the current results are modest, morale is high as Alonso trusts Newey’s vision for the future. With the 2026 rules offering greater room for innovation than expected, Alonso is clearly banking on one final shot at glory in Aston Martin's Newey era if the gamble pays off.
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