Career Timeline of Fernando Alonso: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Fernando Alonso made an impact.

Fernando Alonso is a Spanish Formula One driver currently racing for Aston Martin. He is a two-time Formula One World Champion (2005, 2006) with Renault and has achieved 32 Grand Prix victories over 22 seasons. Alonso has also found success in endurance racing, winning the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance Championship and twice winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Toyota. Notably, he is the only driver to have won both the Formula One World Drivers' Championship and the World Sportscar/World Endurance Drivers' Championship. Additionally, he won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2019.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1988: Children's Junior Championship of Asturias and Galicia win

In 1988, Alonso won the Children's Junior Championship of Asturias and Galicia in karting.

1989: Children's Junior Championship of Asturias and Galicia win

In 1989, Alonso won the Children's Junior Championship of Asturias and Galicia in karting.

1990: Progresses to Cadet class

In 1990, Alonso progressed to the Cadet class in karting.

1990: Asturias and Basque Country Cadet Championship win

In 1990, Alonso won the Asturias and the Basque Country Cadet Championship.

1991: Second in Spanish Cadet National Championship

In 1991, Alonso finished second in the Spanish Cadet National Championship.

1993: Joins Italian American Motor Engineering

In 1993, Alonso joined the Italian American Motor Engineering works team.

1995: Third at CIK-FIA Cadets' Rainbow Trophy

In 1995, Alonso finished third at the Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK-FIA) Cadets' Rainbow Trophy.

1995: Third Spanish Junior National Championship

In 1995, Alonso won his third successive Spanish Junior National Championship.

July 1996: Karting championship victory

In July 1996, Alonso won his world karting championship in a kart with number 14 at the age of 14.

1996: Wins multiple Karting Championships

In 1996, Alonso won his fourth Spanish Junior Karting Championship, the Trofeo Estival, the Marlboro Masters, and the CIK-FIA 5 Continents Juniors Cup at the Karting Genk.

1997: Wins multiple Karting Championships

In 1997, Alonso took the Italian and Spanish International A championships and was second in the European Championship with nine wins, the Masters Karting Paris Bercy and the Spanish Karting Championship.

December 1999: Formula One test at Circuito de Jerez

In December 1999, Cesare Fiorio gave Alonso a test in a Formula One car at the Circuito de Jerez, as part of RPM's agreement.

1999: Sports car endurance racing debut

In 1999, Alonso made his sports car endurance racing debut at the 24 Hours of Barcelona, finishing third in the M10 class and tenth overall in a Hyundai Accent with his team.

1999: Euro Open by Nissan Title

In 1999, at the age of 17, Alonso made his car racing debut in the Euro Open by Nissan with Campos Motorsport, winning the title from Manuel Gião.

2000: International Formula 3000 Championship

In 2000, Alonso progressed to the International Formula 3000 Championship with Team Astromega, finishing second at the Hungaroring and winning the season-ending round at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

2000: Test and Reserve Driver for Minardi

In 2000, Alonso was Minardi's test and reserve driver.

2001: Joins Minardi's Race Team

In 2001, Alonso joined Minardi's race team, achieving a best result of tenth place in the German Grand Prix.

2001: Formula One debut

In 2001, Alonso made his Formula One debut at the Australian Grand Prix for Minardi.

2001: Race of Champions Nations' Cup Win

In 2001, Alonso won the Race of Champions Nations' Cup.

2002: Renault's test driver

In 2002, Alonso signed as Renault's test driver, working with the engineering department to improve Giancarlo Fisichella's and Jenson Button's performance, and tested in Spain and the United Kingdom. He also drove a Jaguar in an evaluation session at the Silverstone Circuit in May 2002.

2003: Joins Renault and youngest polesitter/race winner

In 2003, Alonso joined Renault as a full-time driver, becoming the youngest polesitter at the Malaysian Grand Prix and youngest race winner at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

2003: Promotion to Renault race team

In 2003, Alonso was promoted to the Renault race team, breaking the records of youngest driver to win a pole position at the Malaysian Grand Prix, and the youngest F1 race winner at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

2003: Sixth Place Finish

In 2003, Fernando Alonso finished sixth in the Drivers' Championship.

2004: Several podiums achieved

During the 2004 campaign, Alonso achieved several podium finishes while driving for Renault.

2004: Improved Season with Renault

In 2004, Alonso had an improved season with Renault, finishing the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in third position and taking three more podium finishes.

April 2005: Contract Extension with Renault

In April 2005, Alonso signed a contract extension with Renault for 2006.

2005: Maiden title and youngest World Drivers' Champion

In 2005, Alonso won his maiden Formula 1 title, becoming the first World Drivers' Champion from Spain and the youngest in Formula One history at age 24.

2005: World Championship win

In 2005, Alonso won the World Championship, eclipsing Emerson Fittipaldi as the youngest World Drivers' Champion, with seven victories, six pole positions and fourteen podium finishes.

2005: First Formula One World Drivers' Championship title

In 2005, Fernando Alonso won his first Formula One World Drivers' Championship title with Renault.

2005: UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

Since 2005, Alonso has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

November 2006: First Appearance for Mclaren

In November 2006, Renault allowed Alonso to make his first appearance for McLaren in a test session at the Circuito de Jerez.

December 2006: Contract with Mclaren

In December 2006, Alonso's contract with Renault expired, and he had previously agreed to a three-year contract to drive for McLaren starting from 2007.

2006: Defends World Title

In 2006, Alonso successfully defended his World Drivers' Championship title against Michael Schumacher.

2006: Second Formula One World Drivers' Championship title

In 2006, Fernando Alonso secured his second Formula One World Drivers' Championship title, again with Renault.

2007: Move to Mclaren

In 2007, Alonso moved to McLaren, achieving four Grand Prix victories and ultimately finishing third overall in the championship with 109 points.

2008: Returns to Renault and multiple race wins

In 2008, Alonso returned to Renault, winning multiple races, including the controversial Singapore Grand Prix.

2008: Joins Renault, Wins in Singapore and Japan

In 2008, Fernando Alonso rejoined Renault on a two-year contract. Despite early car issues, aerodynamic developments helped him win in Singapore and Japan. The Singapore race was marred by the "crashgate" scandal, where his teammate was ordered to crash deliberately. Alonso scored the most points in the final five races and finished fifth in the Drivers' Championship.

2009: Agreement with Ferrari

In 2009, Alonso agreed to drive for Ferrari, but the move was delayed.

2009: Winless season

In 2009, Alonso endured a winless campaign with Renault.

2009: Re-signs with Renault, Achieves Podium in Singapore

In 2009, Fernando Alonso re-signed with Renault on a two-year contract, declining offers from Red Bull Racing and Honda. His car was uncompetitive. However, Alonso achieved a third-place podium finish at the Singapore Grand Prix. He also won pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix but retired due to a wheel issue. He finished ninth in the Drivers' Championship.

2010: Signs for Ferrari

In 2010, Alonso signed for Ferrari, finishing runner-up to Sebastian Vettel.

2011: Single victory in 2011

In 2011, Alonso secured a single victory for Ferrari as Red Bull consolidated their advantage.

2011: Drives for Ferrari

In 2011, Fernando Alonso drove for Ferrari.

2011: Wins British Grand Prix, Finishes Fourth Overall

In 2011, Fernando Alonso had a mixed season with Ferrari. He won the British Grand Prix due to a Red Bull strategy error. He secured ten podium finishes and out-qualified his teammate fifteen times. Alonso finished fourth overall with 257 points.

2012: Runner-up to Vettel again

In 2012, Alonso finished runner-up to Vettel again while driving the F10 for Ferrari.

2012: Contract Extension with Ferrari, Runner-Up in Championship

In 2012, Fernando Alonso extended his contract with Ferrari until 2016. He won races in Malaysia, Valencia, and Germany and built a significant lead in the Drivers' Championship. Despite this, he finished as runner-up for the second time after Vettel finished ahead of him in the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

2013: Runner-up to Vettel for the second year in a row

In 2013, Alonso finished runner-up to Vettel for the second year in a row, driving the F138 for Ferrari.

2013: Highest finish since 2013

In 2013, Alonso's fourth position in the standings was his highest finish since 2013.

2013: Wins in China and Spain, Second in Championship

In 2013, Fernando Alonso won races in China and Spain and consistently scored points. However, a change of tyre compound affected his performance, and he finished second in the championship for the third time in his career. His relationship with Ferrari cooled due to the team's inability to produce a title-winning car.

2013: White helmet to celebrate career points

In 2013, at the Indian Grand Prix, Alonso sported a white helmet to celebrate his total number of career points scored up to the preceding Japanese Grand Prix of 1571, with the words "F1 points World Record".

2014: Prior Placement

Hungarian Grand Prix 2014, was Alonso's prior placement.

2014: Winless season

In 2014, Alonso had a winless season with Ferrari amidst new engine regulations.

2014: No Race Wins, Finishes Sixth in Championship

In 2014, Fernando Alonso did not achieve any race wins because his Ferrari car was less powerful than the Mercedes. He finished third in the Chinese Grand Prix and second in the Hungarian Grand Prix. He ended the season in sixth place in the Drivers' Championship.

2015: Returns to Mclaren under Honda power

In 2015, Alonso returned to McLaren under Honda power, experiencing limited success.

2016: Contract with Ferrari

In 2016, Alonso's contract with Ferrari was to end.

2016: Misses Bahrain Grand Prix, Finishes Tenth in Championship

In 2016, Fernando Alonso missed the Bahrain Grand Prix due to injuries from a crash at the Australian Grand Prix. He scored points in nine races, including two fifth-place finishes. He finished tenth in the Drivers' Championship.

October 2017: Signs Multi-Year Extension with McLaren

On October 19, 2017, Fernando Alonso signed a multi-year extension with McLaren.

2017: Fastest lap since 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix

In 2017, Alonso recorded his first fastest lap since the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix at Zandvoort.

2017: Contract Ends with Mclaren

In 2017, Alonso's contract with McLaren ended.

2017: Stays at McLaren, Finishes Fifteenth in Championship

In 2017, Fernando Alonso stayed at McLaren, but poor reliability affected his season. His best finish was a sixth place in the Hungarian Grand Prix, and he finished 15th in the Drivers' Championship.

2018: Moves into sportscar racing

At the end of 2018, after limited success with McLaren, Alonso retired from Formula 1 and moved into sportscar racing with Toyota, winning the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice.

2018: 24 Hours of Daytona

In 2018, Alonso drove a Ligier JS P217 entered by United Autosports in the 24 Hours of Daytona, finishing 38th after mechanical issues.

2018: FIA World Endurance Championship win

In 2018, Alonso won the FIA World Endurance Championship with Toyota.

2018: Leaves F1 as a Driver

In 2018, Fernando Alonso finished fifth at the Australian Grand Prix and had nine top-ten finishes. He left F1 as a driver at the end of the season due to a perceived lack of on-track racing and the predictability of results.

April 2019: Drives for Pirelli

In April 2019, Fernando Alonso drove the MCL34 during a test to develop tyres for Pirelli.

2019: Second Indianapolis 500 entry

In 2019, Alonso entered the Indianapolis 500 for the second time.

2019: 24 Hours of Daytona win

In 2019, Alonso won the 24 Hours of Daytona with WTR.

2019: Win at the 24 Hours of Daytona

In 2019, Alonso won the rain-shortened 24 Hours of Daytona with Wayne Taylor Racing, sharing a Cadillac DPi-V.R with Kamui Kobayashi, Renger van der Zande, and Jordan Taylor.

2019: LMP1 Drivers' Championship win

In 2019, Alonso, Buemi, and Nakajima won the LMP1 Drivers' Championship, including the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans, but their teammates faced issues.

2019: Focus on 2019

In 2019, Mclaren stopped developing their car to focus on the future.

2020: Ambassador Contract with McLaren Expires

At the end of 2019 (expired in 2020), Fernando Alonso's ambassador contract with McLaren expired and was not renewed.

2020: Dakar Rally

In 2020, Alonso entered the Dakar Rally with Toyota, finishing in 13th position with co-driver Marc Coma.

2020: Third Indianapolis 500 entry

In 2020, Alonso entered the Indianapolis 500 for the third time.

2020: Testing for Renault

In preparation for his F1 return, Alonso did some testing driving the Renault R.S.18 and R.S.20 for Renault in 2020.

August 2021: Contract Extension for 2022

In August 2021, Fernando Alonso invoked an option to extend his contract for the 2022 season.

2021: Returns to Formula 1 with Alpine

In 2021, Alonso returned to Formula One with Alpine, recording his first podium in seven years at the Qatar Grand Prix.

2021: Signs with Alpine F1 Team, First Points of the Season

In 2021, Fernando Alonso signed with Alpine F1 Team. In his first race, he retired due to debris in his brake duct. He scored his first points of the season at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after a penalty to Kimi Räikkönen.

2021: Prior Placement

Sebastian Vettel's podium at the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was Aston's prior achievement.

2022: Highest Start for Alpine, Penalty in Canada

During the 2022 season, Fernando Alonso achieved his highest start driving for Alpine at the Canadian Grand Prix, starting in second. He faced strategic issues and an engine problem, finishing seventh but later receiving a penalty that dropped him to ninth.

2022: Plans for 2022

In 2022, Alonso remained with Alpine.

2022: Breaks record for most career starts

In 2022, while driving for Alpine, Alonso broke the record for most career starts in Formula One.

2023: Moves to Aston Martin

In 2023, Alonso moved to Aston Martin, achieving several podiums and finishing fourth in the World Drivers' Championship; he also scored his 100th career podium at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

2023: Podiums in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia

In 2023, on his Aston Martin debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso finished in 3rd place, securing a podium finish. He finished in third again at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, marking his 100th podium. A post-race penalty was later reversed, keeping his podium.