Fernando Alonso Díaz is a Spanish racing driver who currently competes in Formula One for Aston Martin. He is a two-time Formula One World Champion, having won the title in 2005 and 2006 with Renault. Alonso has also driven for other notable teams such as McLaren, Ferrari, and Minardi. His accomplishments extend beyond Formula One, securing two victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2018, 2019) with Toyota, a team with which he also clinched the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2018-2019. Further adding to his accolades, he triumphed at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2019 with Wayne Taylor Racing. Notably, Alonso holds the distinction of being the sole driver to have won both the Formula One World Drivers' Championship and the World Endurance Championship, a feat unmatched even when considering the World Sportscar Championship as part of the latter.
Fernando Alonso was born in 1979.
Fernando Alonso was born in July 1981.
Fernando Alonso was born on July 29, 1981, in Oviedo, Asturias, located in Northern Spain. His parents, José Luis Alonso and Ana Díaz, came from a working-class background. His father worked as a mechanic in a mine shaft explosives factory and also pursued amateur kart racing. His mother was employed at a department store. Alonso has an older sister named Lorena, who is a doctor.
Fernando Alonso began his primary education at the Holy Guardian Angel Primary School in Oviedo in 1985.
At seven years old, Fernando Alonso won his first kart race in Pola de Laviana, marking the start of a successful journey in karting.
Fernando Alonso continued his winning streak in karting by securing another championship victory in 1989.
Fernando Alonso progressed to the Cadet class in karting in 1990. During this time, he caught the attention of go-kart importer Genís Marcó, who was impressed by Alonso's skills and decided to mentor him. Marcó played a pivotal role in Alonso's early career by securing financial support for his family and introducing him to opportunities in European racing.
Fernando Alonso won the Asturias and the Basque Country Cadet Championship in 1990.
Fernando Alonso finished second in the 1991 Spanish Cadet National Championship. His talent was evident even at a young age, as the local karting federation allowed him to compete in the 100cc class despite being underage for the more powerful karts.
Fernando Alonso's talent was recognized by six-time Karting World Champion Mike Wilson, who provided him with a test session. Following this, Alonso joined the Italian American Motor Engineering works team in 1993. This marked the start of a successful run, as he went on to win the Spanish Junior National Championship three times in a row.
Fernando Alonso won the Spanish Junior National Championship for the third consecutive time in 1995. His impressive performances in the national championships paved the way for him to compete in world championships.
Fernando Alonso secured a podium finish, coming in third at the 1995 Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK-FIA) Cadets' Rainbow Trophy. To support his racing endeavors, he also worked as a mechanic for younger kart drivers.
Fernando Alonso completed his primary education at the Holy Guardian Angel Primary School in Oviedo in 1995.
On July 14th, 1996, at the age of 14, Alonso won the world karting championship in a kart numbered 14, making it his lucky number.
Fernando Alonso's dominance in karting continued as he won his fourth Spanish Junior Karting Championship in 1996. Adding to his list of achievements, he also secured victories in the Trofeo Estival, the Marlboro Masters, and the prestigious CIK-FIA 5 Continents Juniors Cup at Karting Genk.
In 1997, Fernando Alonso continued his winning ways by clinching both the Italian and Spanish International A championships. His success wasn't limited to national championships, as he also secured a commendable second place in the European Championship. During this successful year, he also achieved nine race victories, including wins at the Masters Karting Paris Bercy and the Spanish Karting Championship.
Fernando Alonso's performance in the Euro Open by Nissan earned him a test drive in a Formula One car at the Circuito de Jerez in December 1999. This opportunity arose from an agreement between the Euro Open by Nissan's organizing company, RPM, and Minardi, to allow the series champion a chance to experience driving at a higher level.
At 17 years old, Fernando Alonso began his car racing career, winning the Euro Open by Nissan championship in 1999.
At the age of 17, Fernando Alonso made his debut in car racing, competing in the 1999 Euro Open by Nissan with Campos Motorsport. He showcased his talent by winning the championship title against tough competition from Manuel Gião, securing six wins and nine pole positions throughout the season.
In 1999, Fernando Alonso made his sports car endurance racing debut at the 24 Hours of Barcelona, finishing third in the M10 class.
Progressing to the higher-tier International Formula 3000 Championship in 2000, Fernando Alonso raced for the Minardi-backed Team Astromega. He secured a second-place finish at the Hungaroring and emerged victorious in the season-ending race at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. These results placed him fourth overall in the championship standings with 17 points.
Fernando Alonso competed in the International Formula 3000 Championship in 2000 and secured fourth place overall.
Fernando Alonso had to leave Institute Leopoldo Alas Clarín in 2000 due to his burgeoning motor racing career, which prevented him from attending classes regularly. Despite this, he managed to maintain good academic standing by getting notes from classmates.
Fernando Alonso continued his association with Minardi in 2000, taking on the role of test and reserve driver for the team. This experience proved valuable as he prepared for a full-time racing seat in Formula One.
Fernando Alonso made his Formula One debut in 2001, racing for Minardi.
Fernando Alonso officially joined Minardi's race team in 2001, marking his entry into the world of Formula One as a full-time driver. However, he faced challenges due to the car's lack of competitiveness, managing only a tenth-place finish in the German Grand Prix as his best result of the season. Consequently, he finished the season without scoring any championship points, ending up in 23rd place overall.
In 2001, Alonso's helmet was manufactured by Bieffe. He started incorporating the yellow and red colors of the Spanish flag and shades of blue from the Asturias flag. Two silver thunderbolt arrows, inspired by a childhood gift, also became a permanent fixture.
Representing Team Spain, Fernando Alonso, alongside rally driver Jesús Puras and motorcyclist Rubén Xaus, triumphed in the 2001 Race of Champions Nations Cup.
In May 2002, Fernando Alonso participated in an evaluation session at Silverstone, driving a Jaguar against other test drivers. This was during his time as a test driver for Renault, where he played a crucial role in improving the performance of race drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Jenson Button.
Fernando Alonso joined Renault as a test driver in 2002.
In 2003, Alonso's victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix earned him the Autosport Gregor Grant Award. The same year, he was also recognized as the sporting newcomer and received the Princess Cristina National Sports Award.
In 2003, Fernando Alonso, driving for Renault, became the youngest F1 race winner at the Hungarian Grand Prix, breaking Bruce McLaren's record. This was a significant milestone in his career, marking his rise as a prominent figure in Formula 1. He also secured four podium finishes and ended the season sixth in the World Drivers' Championship.
Fernando Alonso was promoted to a race seat at Renault in 2003.
From 2003 to 2009, Arai became the manufacturer of Alonso's helmet.
Despite the challenges faced in 2009, Fernando Alonso maintained his reputation as one of the best drivers in Formula 1. His skill and experience were evident even when driving a less competitive car.
Fernando Alonso continued with Renault in 2004 and showcased improved performance, finishing third in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. He secured three more podium finishes and achieved pole position at the French Grand Prix, ultimately finishing fourth in the World Drivers' Championship.
In February 2005, Fernando Alonso was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador by the UNICEF Spanish Committee.
In April 2005, Fernando Alonso, already making waves in Formula 1, extended his contract with Renault. This decision set the stage for him to further cement his legacy in the sport.
Fernando Alonso was awarded the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy in April 2005.
Beginning in October 2005, he received the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports, in recognition of his contributions to sport.
In 2005, Fernando Alonso became the youngest World Drivers' Champion, surpassing Emerson Fittipaldi's record. Driving for Renault, he achieved this feat by winning seven races, securing six pole positions, and achieving fourteen podium finishes. His success was partly attributed to the reliability of his car, which outperformed Kimi Räikkönen's McLaren in terms of consistency.
Fernando Alonso won his first Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 2005 with Renault.
Alonso was honored with the Premios Nacionales del Deporte Sportsman of the Year Award in May 2006.
Fernando Alonso and Raquel del Rosario, the lead vocalist of the Spanish pop group El Sueño de Morfeo, exchanged vows in November 2006.
In November 2006, Fernando Alonso made his first appearance for McLaren during a test session at the Circuito de Jerez. This marked the beginning of his new journey with the team after signing a three-year contract.
Fernando Alonso's contract with Renault expired in December 2006. This marked the end of a successful partnership that saw him achieve two World Drivers' Championship titles.
Fernando Alonso secured his second Formula One World Drivers' Championship victory in 2006, driving for Renault.
He was named the 2006 Autosport International Racing Driver of the Year.
In 2006, Fernando Alonso, driving for Renault, clinched his second consecutive World Drivers' Championship title, becoming the youngest double champion in Formula 1 history. He engaged in a tight battle with Michael Schumacher throughout the season, with the championship lead changing hands several times. Alonso's victory in the Japanese Grand Prix, coupled with Schumacher's retirement due to an engine failure, proved decisive in securing the title.
Fernando Alonso narrowly missed out on the F1 Championship title, finishing just one point behind Kimi Räikkönen in 2007.
In 2007, Fernando Alonso finished third in the Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship, driving for McLaren. He achieved four Grand Prix victories, in Malaysia, Monaco, Europe, and Italy. His season was marked by a close rivalry with his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, which eventually led to him losing the championship title.
In 2007, he established the Fundación Fernando Alonso to focus on promoting motor racing and road safety education.
Alonso was featured on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list in 2008 and 2017.
Fernando Alonso rejoined Renault in 2008 and achieved two race victories that year.
In 2008, Alonso added two images to his helmet: a spade, an ace, and a heart symbol. This change was made to celebrate his two world championship wins.
In 2008, Fernando Alonso rejoined Renault after a tumultuous season with McLaren. His season was marked by the controversial "Crashgate" incident at the Singapore Grand Prix, where his teammate, Nelson Piquet Jr., deliberately crashed to give Alonso an advantage. Despite this, Alonso's performance improved in the latter half of the season, securing victories in Singapore and Japan and ultimately finishing fifth in the Drivers' Championship.
In 2009, Fernando Alonso reached an agreement with Ferrari to drive for them, initially slated for 2011 but later brought forward to 2010. This marked a significant move in his career, joining one of the most prestigious teams in Formula 1.
Fernando Alonso remained with Renault in 2009, but the season proved to be challenging due to a non-competitive car. He struggled to keep up with the front-runners and achieved only one podium finish, a third place at the Singapore Grand Prix. Alonso finished ninth in the Drivers' Championship, his lowest ranking since 2003.
Fernando Alonso continued to race for Renault in 2009.
Arai stopped manufacturing Alonso's helmet in 2009.
Fernando Alonso joined Ferrari in 2010, and finished as runner-up to Sebastian Vettel in the championship battle.
Fernando Alonso joined Ferrari in 2010, marking the start of a new chapter in his career. He engaged in an intense championship battle with Sebastian Vettel, ultimately finishing as runner-up. Despite leading the championship entering the final race, Alonso lost the title to Vettel by a narrow margin.
Schuberth took over as the manufacturer for Alonso's helmet from 2010 to 2015.
Towards the latter part of his F1 career, Alonso consistently ranked among the top two most popular drivers in the Grand Prix Drivers' Association fan surveys of 2010, 2015, and 2017.
Alonso and Raquel del Rosario decided to part ways and finalized their divorce in December 2011.
For three consecutive Monaco Grand Prix races (2011-2013) and the 2011 Singapore Grand Prix, Alonso replaced the typical blue and yellow on his helmet with gold and white.
Fernando Alonso continued to drive for Ferrari in 2011. He was expected to challenge for the championship.
Fernando Alonso experienced a mixed season with Ferrari in 2011. His car lacked consistency, particularly in qualifying, but he managed to secure ten podium finishes, including a victory at the British Grand Prix. Alonso finished fourth in the Drivers' Championship, narrowly missing out on second place.
Fernando Alonso actively promoted India's efforts to eradicate polio in 2011.
Alonso made his voice acting debut as an anthropomorphic version of himself in the Spanish dub of "Cars 2" in 2011.
From June 2012 to June 2013, Forbes magazine named Alonso the top-earning driver in motorsport.
Alonso championed the importance of handwashing with soap to school children in 2012.
Fernando Alonso once again finished as runner-up to Sebastian Vettel in the F1 Championship in 2012, making it his third second-place finish overall.
In 2012, Fernando Alonso battled for the championship title with Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, ultimately finishing as runner-up despite leading for a portion of the season.
From June 2012 to June 2013, Forbes magazine named Alonso the top-earning driver in motorsport.
For the third consecutive time, Fernando Alonso finished as runner-up to Sebastian Vettel in the F1 Championship in 2013.
Fernando Alonso finished fourth in the driver standings, his highest finish since 2013.
At the 2013 Indian Grand Prix, Alonso used a special white helmet. This design celebrated reaching 1,571 career points, achieved at the Japanese Grand Prix. The helmet featured the words "F1 points World Record" and a thank-you message in English, French, and Italian.
Alonso secured second place in the 2013 championship, but his relationship with Ferrari became strained due to concerns about the car's competitiveness.
At the 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, his last race with Ferrari, Alonso wore a unique helmet. It had a red image of a pit stop from that year, signatures from team members, and an Italian flag in the center.
Despite not winning a race in 2014, Alonso consistently out-qualified teammate Kimi Räikkönen, highlighting his driving prowess even with a less competitive car.
Fernando Alonso's time with Ferrari came to an end in 2014.
Following disagreements with Ferrari, Alonso left the team and rejoined McLaren for the 2015 season, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his career.
In 2014, the FIA introduced a new rule allowing drivers to choose a specific number for their F1 career. Alonso picked 14 because of its significance to his karting championship win.
In Qatar 2021 Alonso achieved his first podium since the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Alonso's 2015 season was hampered by a concussion sustained in a pre-season testing accident, forcing him to miss the opening race.
The Fernando Alonso Sports Complex, inaugurated in June 2015 in Oviedo, features a CIK-FIA compliant karting track with 29 layouts. A museum dedicated to his racing career, the 'Museo y Circuito Fernando Alonso', opened the same year. The museum houses Alonso's race cars, helmets, overalls, and memorabilia.
Fernando Alonso returned to McLaren in 2015.
Fernando Alonso was supposed to join Porsche's team for the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans, but Honda prevented it.
He got engaged to Spanish television host Lara Álvarez in 2015.
In 2015, Alonso was recognized as Personality Media's favorite male athlete, boasting a 99% recognition rate among the Spanish public.
Schuberth stopped manufacturing Alonso's helmet in 2015.
Alonso planned to establish the Fernando Alonso Cycling Team in 2015 to compete in UCI events. However, the project did not materialize.
In 2016, Alonso missed the Bahrain Grand Prix due to injuries from a crash, exemplifying the persistent challenges he faced during this period.
In 2016, Forbes listed Alonso as one of the top-earning international stars.
Fernando Alonso extended his contract with Ferrari until 2016, a period marked by both successes and challenges within the team.
Arai returned as the manufacturer for Alonso's helmet in 2016.
Alonso's engagement to Lara Álvarez came to an end in 2016. Following this, he began a relationship with Italian model Linda Morselli.
Despite signing a contract extension with McLaren, Alonso's frustration grew due to the car's lack of competitiveness and a perceived lack of excitement in F1.
Alonso supported UNICEF's anti-cyberbullying campaign in November 2017.
Alonso established the FA Racing G2 Logitech G eSports racing team in November 2017, serving as the team principal and competing in virtual online racing championships across multiple platforms.
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, proposed to Alonso that they should enter the Indianapolis 500. Initially hesitant, Alonso agreed, considering it beneficial for all parties involved.
Towards the latter part of his F1 career, Alonso consistently ranked among the top two most popular drivers in the Grand Prix Drivers' Association fan surveys of 2010, 2015, and 2017.
In 2017, Alonso lent his voice to the Spanish dub of "Cars 3", playing a voice command assistant.
Forbes recognized Alonso as one of the highest-paid international and European celebrities in 2017.
Fernando Alonso recorded his first fastest lap since the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix at the Zandvoort Grand Prix.
Fernando Alonso participated in the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 2017.
Bell became Alonso's helmet manufacturer starting in 2017.
Alonso's performance in the 2017 Indianapolis 500 earned him the title of Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. Notably, in the same year, he was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame for being an F1 World Champion.
Alonso's 2017 season was marred by car reliability problems, resulting in a disappointing 15th place finish in the championship.
Alonso wore a black helmet with red, yellow, and blue stripes and his race number during the 2017 Indianapolis 500 and United States Grand Prix.
Alonso signed a three-year contract with McLaren, a period that would see both highs and lows as the team worked to improve its competitiveness.
In January 2018, McLaren and Toyota agreed to allow Alonso to enter the FIA World Endurance Championship.
McLaren started planning Alonso's entry for the 2019 IndyCar Series in August 2018.
Fernando Alonso concluded his second stint with McLaren in 2018, after which he took a two-year break from Formula One.
In 2018, Alonso redesigned his helmet. The front became primarily blue. The top back was lighter blue, and the rear was red and yellow. For the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the right side featured the Spanish flag with a blue-checkered pattern. Gold replaced yellow in that section, between two red horizontal stripes. A thick vertical stripe listed Alonso's 32 F1 race wins.
Fernando Alonso debuted at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2018, but his team finished 38th due to mechanical problems.
At the 2018 24 Hours of Daytona, he changed the black base of his helmet to white and removed the front stripes. The back displayed the Daytona International Speedway layout and kept his usual blue, red, and yellow.
Fernando Alonso and his team won the LMP1 Drivers' Championship in 2018, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Due to his F1 salary and endorsements, Alonso was consistently listed as one of the world's highest-paid athletes by Forbes every year from 2012 to 2018.
Alonso's FA Racing G2 Logitech G eSports team disbanded in 2018.
After a final season with McLaren in 2018, Alonso decided to leave Formula 1, citing concerns about the sport's direction and predictability.
Alonso visited the McLaren Technology Centre in March 2019 for a seat fitting and to familiarize himself with the Dallara IR18-Chevrolet.
In March 2019, Alonso launched a new eSports team in partnership with FA Racing and Veloce Esports.
Alonso participated in a tire test for Pirelli in April 2019, demonstrating his continued involvement in motorsport even after leaving F1.
Alonso's team secured another victory at the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans, contributing to their LMP1 championship win. Alonso left the series at the end of the season.
Fernando Alonso competed in the Indianapolis 500 for the second time in 2019.
In 2019, Fernando Alonso won the rain-shortened 24 Hours of Daytona.
In 2019, he achieved another milestone by becoming the first driver to be inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame twice, this time for being a FIA World Endurance Champion.
McLaren's decision to shift development focus to their 2019 car further contributed to Alonso's disillusionment with the team's direction.
Ruoff Mortgage sponsored Alonso for his attempt at the Indianapolis 500 in 2020.
Fernando Alonso participated in the Indianapolis 500 for the third time in 2020.
Fernando Alonso debuted at the Dakar Rally in 2020 after months of preparation, finishing 13th overall.
Alonso's ambassador contract with McLaren expired at the end of 2019 and was not renewed, marking a formal end to his association with the team.
Alonso participated in the 2020 Indianapolis 500 with Arrow McLaren SP, finishing 21st due to a clutch problem.
Alonso undertook extensive testing with Renault in 2020 to prepare for his return to F1, demonstrating his commitment and determination.
Alonso's strong performance with Alpine led to a contract extension for the 2022 season, solidifying his place in the team.
After a two-year hiatus, Fernando Alonso returned to Formula One in 2021, racing for Alpine. Notably, he achieved a podium finish at the Qatar Grand Prix, his first in seven years.
Fernando Alonso and Linda Morselli's relationship ended in 2021.
Fernando Alonso returned to Formula 1 in 2021 with Alpine (formerly Renault), marking a significant comeback to the sport.
In 2021, Sebastian Vettel, while racing for Aston Martin, secured a podium finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and finished second in the Hungarian Grand Prix. However, he was disqualified from the latter due to fuel irregularities.
Carlos Sainz Jr. won his first Formula One Grand Prix at the 2022 British Grand Prix. Before this win, Fernando Alonso held the distinction of being the sole Spaniard to have won a Formula One race.
Fernando Alonso broke the record for the most starts in Formula One at the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix.
Alonso secured a contract extension with Alpine for the 2022 season.
Alonso set a new record in Formula 1 history in 2022 by achieving the longest distance covered in the sport. His fifth-place finish at the 2022 British Grand Prix pushed his total driving distance to an astounding 92,643 kilometers (57,566 miles).
Alonso continued to drive for Alpine in the 2022 season, demonstrating his commitment to the team.
Fernando Alonso started racing for Aston Martin in the 2023 season and experienced a strong start, securing six podium finishes within the first eight races. Notably, he achieved his 100th podium finish at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, placing him among an elite group of only six drivers to achieve this milestone in the sport's history.
In 2023, Alonso's driver management company, A14 Management, managed several young drivers across various motorsport disciplines. These drivers include Maximilian Günther, Clément Novalak, Nikola Tsolov, Gabriel Bortoleto, Pepe Martí, Han Cenyu, Andrés Cárdenas and Carl Bennett.
In 2023, Fernando Alonso debuted with Aston Martin at the Bahrain Grand Prix, finishing third. He achieved another podium in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, marking his 100th F1 podium.
Seeking a multi-year contract, Alonso decided to join Aston Martin in 2023, partnering with Lance Stroll.
As of 2024, Fernando Alonso holds the distinction of being the sole driver to have won both the F1 World Drivers' Championship and the World Endurance Championship, a feat unmatched even when considering the World Sportscar Championship as part of WEC.