Fernando Alonso's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Fernando Alonso.

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

Sections (4)

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

1988: Won Children's Junior Championship

In 1988, Fernando Alonso won the children's junior Championship of the Asturias.

1989: Won Children's Junior Championship

In 1989, Fernando Alonso won the children's junior Championship of Galicia.

1990: Won Karting Championship

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

1995: Won Spanish Junior National Championship

In 1995, Fernando Alonso won the Spanish Junior National Championship.

July 1996: Karting Championship Victory

In July 1996, Alonso won his world karting championship while using the number 14.

1996: Won Karting Championships

In 1996, Fernando 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: Karting Championships

In 1997, Fernando Alonso won the Italian and Spanish International A championships and was second in the European Championship, Masters Karting Paris Bercy and the Spanish Karting Championship.

1999: Won Euro Open by Nissan

In 1999, at the age of 17, Alonso won the Euro Open by Nissan.

2003: Joined Renault and Broke Records

In 2003, Alonso joined Renault and became the youngest polesitter at the Malaysian Grand Prix. He also became the youngest F1 race winner at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

2003: Promoted to Renault Race Team

In 2003, Alonso was promoted to the Renault race team. He broke the records of youngest driver to win a pole position and youngest F1 race winner.

2003: Received Autosport Gregor Grant Award and Princess Cristina National Sports Award

In 2003, Fernando Alonso received the Autosport Gregor Grant Award for winning the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix. He also won the Princess Cristina National Sports Award for sporting newcomer that year.

February 2005: Named UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

In February 2005, Fernando Alonso was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador by the UNICEF Spanish Committee.

April 2005: Named the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy's recipient

In April 2005, Fernando Alonso was named the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy's recipient.

October 2005: Received the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports

In October 2005, Fernando Alonso received the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports.

2005: Won Maiden Title

In 2005, Alonso secured his maiden Formula 1 title, becoming the first World Drivers' Champion from Spain and the youngest in Formula One history at that time, winning seven Grands Prix.

2005: Won World Championship with Renault

In 2005, Alonso stayed at Renault and won the World Championship, becoming the youngest World Drivers' Champion at the time. He had seven victories, six pole positions and fourteen podium finishes.

2005: Won First F1 World Championship

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

May 2006: Received Premios Nacionales del Deporte Sportsman of the Year Award and Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit

From October 2005 to May 2006, Fernando Alonso received the Premios Nacionales del Deporte Sportsman of the Year Award and the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit for winning the 2005 F1 World Championship.

2006: Defended F1 Title

In 2006, Alonso successfully defended his Formula 1 title against Michael Schumacher.

2006: Won Second World Championship

In 2006, Alonso won his second Formula 1 World Championship, becoming the youngest double World Champion. He won the Japanese Grand Prix after Michael Schumacher retired and finished second at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

2006: Named Autosport International Racing Driver of the Year

In 2006, Fernando Alonso was named the Autosport International Racing Driver of the Year.

2008: Rejoins Renault

In 2008, Alonso rejoined Renault on a two-year contract, rejecting offers from several other teams. Despite early car issues, aerodynamic developments later in the season helped him win the Singapore and Japan races. He finished fifth in the Drivers' Championship with 61 points.

2008: Multiple Wins with Renault

In 2008, Alonso returned to Renault and secured multiple race wins, including the controversial Singapore Grand Prix.

2008: Featured on Forbes Celebrity 100 list

In 2008, Fernando Alonso was featured on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list.

2010: Drives for Ferrari

In 2010, Alonso began driving for Ferrari, after an agreement was reached mid-2009 and accelerated due to circumstances with Renault. He won five races and led the championship going into the final race, finishing runner-up to Sebastian Vettel.

2010: Popular Driver in GPDA Fan Surveys

In 2010, Alonso was among the top two most popular drivers in the Grand Prix Drivers' Association fan surveys.

2011: Wins British Grand Prix

In 2011, Alonso's season was mixed. He won the British Grand Prix after a strategy error from Red Bull, secured ten podium finishes, and finished fourth overall in the Drivers' Championship with 257 points.

June 2012: Listed as one of the world's highest-paid athletes by Forbes

From June 2012, Fernando Alonso was listed as one of the world's highest-paid athletes by Forbes.

2012: Extends Ferrari contract and finishes runner-up

In 2012, Alonso extended his contract with Ferrari until 2016. He built a 40-point lead in the Drivers' Championship with wins in Malaysia, Valencia and Germany but finished as runner-up to Vettel on 278 points after a series of setbacks.

June 2013: Motorsport's top-earning driver by Forbes

From June 2012 to June 2013, Forbes magazine named Fernando Alonso as motorsport's top-earning driver.

2013: Second in the Drivers' Championship

In 2013, Alonso won in China and Spain, consistently scoring points. He finished second in the Drivers' Championship for the third time in his career with 242 points.

2015: Personality Media's Favourite Male Athlete

In 2015, Alonso was Personality Media's favourite male athlete, achieving a 99 per cent recognition rating amongst the Spanish public.

2016: Named as top earning international star

In 2016, Forbes named Fernando Alonso one of the top-earning international stars.

2017: Popular Driver in GPDA Fan Surveys

In 2017, Alonso was within the top two most popular drivers in the Grand Prix Drivers' Association fan surveys.

2017: Voted Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, Inducted into FIA Hall of Fame

In 2017, Fernando Alonso was voted the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame for being a F1 World Champion.

2017: Named as one of highest-paid international and European celebrities

In 2017, Forbes named Fernando Alonso as one of the highest-paid international and European celebrities.

2018: Won FIA World Endurance Championship

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

2018: Listed as one of the world's highest-paid athletes by Forbes

Up until 2018, Fernando Alonso was listed as one of the world's highest-paid athletes by Forbes.

2019: 24 Hours of Daytona Win

In 2019, Alonso returned to race in the 24 Hours of Daytona with Wayne Taylor Racing, sharing a Cadillac DPi-V.R and winning the rain-shortened event.

2019: LMP1 Drivers' Championship Win

In 2019, Alonso, alongside Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima, won the LMP1 Drivers' Championship, including the 2018 and 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans victories.

2019: Inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame as FIA World Endurance Champion

In 2019, Fernando Alonso was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame again as a FIA World Endurance Champion, making him the first driver to be inducted twice.

2019: Won 24 Hours of Le Mans and Daytona

In 2019, Fernando Alonso won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Toyota for the second time and also won the 24 Hours of Daytona with WTR.

2023: Podium Finishes with Aston Martin

In 2023, Alonso achieved podium finishes at the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The second one marked his 100th podium, making him the sixth driver to have scored 100 podiums in his career.