Fernando Alonso
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Fernando Alonso Díaz ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}; born 29 July 1981) is a Spanish racing driver who competes in Formula One for Aston Martin. Alonso has won two Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles, which he won in Template:F1 and Template:F1 with Renault, and has won Template:F1stat Grands Prix across 22 seasons. In endurance racing, Alonso won the 2018–19 FIA World Endurance Championship and is a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Toyota, and remains the only driver to have won both the Formula One World Drivers' Championship and the World Sportscar/World Endurance Drivers' Championship; he also won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2019 with WTR.
Born and raised in Oviedo to a working class family, Alonso began kart racing aged three and won several regional, national and continental titles. He progressed to junior formulae aged 17, winning the Euro Open by Nissan in 1999 before finishing fourth in International Formula 3000. Alonso signed for Minardi in Template:F1, making his Formula One debut at the Template:F1GP. After a non-scoring rookie season, he joined Renault as a test driver before his promotion to a full-time seat in Template:F1; he became the then-youngest polesitter and race winner at the Malaysian and Hungarian Grands Prix, respectively, before achieving several podiums across his Template:F1 campaign. Alonso won his maiden title after winning seven Grands Prix in Template:F1, becoming the first World Drivers' Champion from Spain and the then-youngest in Formula One history, aged 24. He successfully defended his title from Michael Schumacher in Template:F1. Alonso moved to McLaren for Template:F1, finishing one point behind champion Kimi Räikkönen and returning to Renault amidst inter-team tensions. He won multiple races in Template:F1—including the controversial Singapore Grand Prix—before enduring a winless Template:F1 campaign.
Alonso signed for Ferrari in Template:F1, finishing runner-up to Sebastian Vettel by four points in the third-placed F10. He took a single victory in Template:F1 as Red Bull consolidated their advantage, before finishing runner-up to Vettel again in Template:F1 and Template:F1—the former by three points and the latter in the third-placed F138. After a winless Template:F1 season amidst new engine regulations, Alonso returned to McLaren under Honda power in Template:F1. He remained with the team until the end of Template:F1, resulting in limited success, before his first retirement. Alonso then moved into sportscar racing with Toyota, winning the FIA World Endurance Championship, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice. He returned to Formula One in Template:F1 with Alpine, recording his first podium in seven years at the Template:F1GP, and breaking the record for most career starts in Template:F1. Alonso moved to Aston Martin for his Template:F1 campaign, achieving several podiums as he finished fourth in the World Drivers' Championship; he scored his 100th career podium at the Template:F1GP. In Template:F1, he became the first driver to contest 400 Grands Prix.
As of the Template:LatestF1GP, Alonso has achieved Template:F1stat race wins, Template:F1stat pole positions, Template:F1stat fastest laps and Template:F1stat podiums in Formula One. Alonso is contracted to remain at Aston Martin until at least the end of the 2026 season.<ref name="contract"/> In addition to holding the most race starts (Template:F1stat), his longevity has broken several Formula One records.Template:Efn Alonso won the 2001 Race of Champions Nations' Cup, and thrice entered the Indianapolis 500 in 2017, 2019 and 2020. He runs a driver management firm and has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2005. Alonso has been awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit and twice been inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame.
Early life and karting careerEdit
Alonso was born on 29 July 1981 to a working-class family in Oviedo, Asturias, Northern Spain.<ref name="ALOHOFBio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ALOUTBio">Template:Cite news</ref> He is the son of the mine shaft explosives factory mechanic and amateur kart driver José Luis Alonso,<ref name=ALOUTBio/><ref name="ESPNDeportes05">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and his wife,<ref name="ESPNDeportes05" /> the department store employee Ana Díaz.<ref name="ALOHOFBio" /><ref name="ALOByVBio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso has an elder sister, Lorena, who is a doctor.<ref name="ALOByVBio" />
He was educated at the Holy Guardian Angel Primary School (Spanish: Santo Ángel de la Guarda) in Oviedo from 1985 to 1995 under the Basic Education System (Spanish: Educación General Básica).<ref name="ASMar03" /> Alonso attended the Institute Leopoldo Alas Clarín of San Lazaro (Spanish: Instituto Leopoldo Alas Clarín de San Lázaro) until his career in motor racing caused him to leave during his Curso de Orientación Universitaria (English: University Orientation Course) in 2000.<ref name="ASMar03" /> He was granted a permit to study away from school,<ref name="20MMar07" /> after he disobeyed his mother's orders and seldom attended classes.<ref name="LVANov18" /> He achieved a good academic performance by asking his classmates for notes and was unproblematic.<ref name="ASMar03">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Alonso's father wanted a hobby to share with his children and built a go-kart for Lorena. She was uninterested in karting and a three-year-old Alonso received the kart.<ref name="ALOHOFBio" /><ref name="ESPNDeportes05" /><ref name="MMagALOBio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The kart's pedals were modified for drive-ability,<ref name=ALOUTBio/><ref name="20MMar07" /> and the local racing federation granted him a mandatory kart racing license aged five;<ref name="ALOByVBio" /> his father rejected an offer for his son to be a goalkeeper for the RC Celta de Vigo football club.<ref name="20MMar07" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The family lacked the finances required to develop him in karts;<ref name="ALOHOFBio" /> they could not purchase rain tyres and forced Alonso to adapt to a wet track on slick tyres.<ref name="BBCALOOct16">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso devised three timing sectors going to school to improve himself daily.<ref name="ALOWhyRace">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His mother sewed his racing overalls and adjusted them as he grew;<ref name="CNNKartingALO">Template:Cite news</ref> she also ensured Alonso was academically well off.<ref name="ALOHOFBio" /> His father steered the kart early on and was his accountant, counsellor, manager and mechanic.<ref name="CNNKartingALO" /><ref name="SportESOct07">Template:Cite news</ref>
Aged seven, Alonso won his first kart race in Pola de Laviana.<ref name="ALOByVBio" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He won the 1988 and 1989 children's junior Championship of the Asturias and Galicia, and progressed to the Cadet class in 1990.<ref name="CIKFIABio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="AF1ALOBio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Go-kart importer Genís Marcó was impressed by Alonso and mentored him;<ref name="CIKFIABio" /> kart track owner José Luis Echevarria told him about Alonso. Marcó found personal and sponsorship money for Alonso's family to defray financial concerns and allow him to enter European series.<ref name="ALOByVBio" /><ref name="LVANov18">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="McLarenALOJunior">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He spoke to the six-time Karting World Champion Mike Wilson, who gave Alonso a test session at a track in Parma.<ref name="CIKFIABio" /> Marcó taught Alonso to be conservative and maintain the condition of a kart.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Alonso won the 1990 Asturias and the Basque Country Cadet Championship and finished second in the 1991 Spanish Cadet National Championship.<ref name="ALOByVBio" /> The local karting federation allowed him to enter the 100cc class because he was deemed underage to drive more powerful machinery. At a Catalan Karting Championship meet in Móra d'Ebre, Marcó asked Alonso if he wanted to enter the Spanish Karting Championship.<ref name=McLarenALOJunior/> Wilson mentored Alonso; he joined the Italian American Motor Engineering works team in 1993.<ref name="CIKFIABio" /> Alonso won three successive Spanish Junior National Championships from 1993 to 1995.<ref name="AF1ALOBio" />
The results allowed him to progress to the world championships.<ref name="ALOByVBio" /> Alonso was third at the 1995 Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK-FIA) Cadets' Rainbow Trophy.<ref name="CIKFIABio" /> Alonso was a mechanic to younger kart drivers to earn money.<ref name="20MMar07" /> He won his fourth Spanish Junior Karting Championship, the Trofeo Estival, the Marlboro Masters,<ref name="AF1ALOBio" /> and the CIK-FIA 5 Continents Juniors Cup at the Karting Genk in 1996.<ref name="CIKFIABio" /> In 1997, he 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.<ref name="ALOByVBio" /><ref name="AF1ALOBio" />
Motor racing careerEdit
Junior racing careerEdit
Aged 17, Alonso made his car racing debut in the 1999 Euro Open by Nissan with Campos Motorsport, winning the title from Manuel Gião at the final race of the season with six wins and nine pole positions.Template:Efn For 2000, he progressed to the higher-tier International Formula 3000 Championship with the Minardi-backed Team Astromega,<ref name="MMagALOBio" /><ref name="ALOHOFBio" /> after a sponsorship agreement with driver Robert Lechner fell through.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Alonso finished second at the Hungaroring and won the season-ending round at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for fourth overall with 17 points.<ref name="MMagALOBio" />
Formula OneEdit
Minardi and Renault (2001–2006)Edit
Cesare Fiorio, the sports director, gave Alonso a test in a Formula One (F1) car at the Circuito de Jerez in December 1999, as part of the Euro Open by Nissan's organising company RPM's agreement to give its series champion an opportunity to test at a higher level.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was Minardi's test and reserve driver in Template:F1 before joining its race team in Template:F1.<ref name="ALOHOFBio" /> In a non-competitive car,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso's best result of the season was a tenth-place finish in the Template:F1GP and scored no points for 23rd overall.<ref name="MMagALOBio" />
He signed as Renault's test driver for Template:F1 per the orders of manager Flavio Briatore to familiarise himself with the team and improve himself for the future.<ref name="F1COM02Renault">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso worked with the engineering department to improve Giancarlo Fisichella's and Jenson Button's performance,<ref name="GuardianMay05">Template:Cite news</ref> and tested in Spain and the United Kingdom.<ref name="RFBio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He drove a Jaguar in an evaluation session against test drivers André Lotterer and James Courtney at the Silverstone Circuit in May 2002.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso was promoted to the Renault race team for Template:F1.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /> He went on to break the records of youngest driver to win a pole position at the season's second race, the Template:F1 GP, and broke Bruce McLaren's record as the youngest F1 race winner at the Template:F1GP later in the year.Template:Efn<ref name="MMagRecords">Template:Cite journal</ref> He achieved four podium finishes in 2003 and was sixth in the World Drivers' Championship with 55 points.<ref name="MMagALOBio" />
He remained with Renault for Template:F1.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso had an improved season: he finished the season-opening Template:F1GP in third position and took three more podium finishes that year. He took pole position for the Template:F1GP but achieved no race victories en route to fourth in the World Drivers' Championship with 59 points.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /> Alonso stayed at Renault for Template:F1.<ref name="ALOHOFBio" /> He duelled with McLaren driver Kimi Räikkönen for the World Championship in 2005 due to regulation changes prohibiting teams from changing tyres during a race and requiring engines to last for two races before they could be changed. Alonso's car was more reliable than Räikkönen's albeit lacking in speed.<ref name="ESPN2005">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso eclipsed Emerson Fittipaldi as the youngest World Drivers' Champion, having won seven victories, six pole positions and fourteen podium finishes for 133 points altogether.<ref name="ALOHOFBio" /><ref name="MMagALOBio" /><ref name="ESPN2005" />
He signed a contract extension with Renault for Template:F1 in April 2005.<ref name="IndyMcLaren07">Template:Cite news</ref> Bookmakers installed Alonso as the favourite to retain the Drivers' Championship.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His primary competition was Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher.<ref name="ALOHOFBio" /><ref name="FT2006">Template:Cite news</ref> Alonso won six of the first nine races and finished no lower than second to lead the championship with 84 out of a possible 90 points.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /><ref name="RFBio" /> An Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA; F1's governing body)-imposed ban on Renault's tuned mass damper device to slow Alonso and an increase of development into Schumacher's Ferrari for competitiveness saw the two tied on points entering the season's penultimate round, the Template:F1GP.<ref name="ALOHOFBio" /><ref name="FT2006" /> Alonso won the race as Schumacher retired due to an engine failure whilst leading.<ref name="FT2006" /> He needed to score one point at the season-ending Template:F1GP for a second title.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Alonso won the championship by finishing second and was Formula 1's youngest double World Champion.Template:Efn<ref name="MMagRecords" />
McLaren and second stint with Renault (2007–2009)Edit
He and McLaren team owner Ron Dennis met secretly in Japan after Dennis talked to Alonso about driving for the team in the future and Alonso expressed interest in the idea. Both men agreed to a three-year contract for Alonso to drive for McLaren starting from Template:F1.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="BBCAlonso2018P1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso's contract with Renault expired on 31 December 2006, and he was not granted an early release for sponsorship reasons.<ref name="ALOTestMcL06">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Renault allowed Alonso to make his first appearance for McLaren in a test session at the Circuito de Jerez in November 2006.<ref name="ALOTestMcL06" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His main competitors in 2007 were his teammate Lewis Hamilton and Räikkönen at Ferrari. Alonso achieved four Grand Prix victories in Malaysia, Monaco, Europe and Italy and led the championship until Hamilton overtook him.<ref name="BR2007ALO">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Prior to the season's final round, the Template:F1 GP, he had 103 championship points to Räikkönen's 100 and Hamilton's 107, and needed to win the race and for his teammate to finish third or lower for his third title.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Alonso finished the event third for third overall with 109 points. He had the same number of points as Hamilton; the tie was broken on count-back as Hamilton finished second more often than Alonso.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /><ref name="F1COMALO17Facts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Throughout the season, Alonso and Hamilton were involved in a number of incidents, such as the espionage scandal and the flare-up during qualifying for the Template:F1GP when Hamilton disobeyed a team instruction, thus disadvantaging Alonso, and Alonso responded by delaying Hamilton in the pit lane.<ref name="BBCAlonso2018P1" /><ref name="BBCALO2018P2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The tensions culminated in Alonso and McLaren terminating their contract by mutual consent in November.<ref name="BBCALO2018P2" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Alonso was forbidden from joining a team whom McLaren considered their primary challengers for Template:F1.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After rejecting offers from several teams,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> he signed a two-year contract to rejoin Renault from 2008 because of the manufacturer's long-term commitment to F1 and on-track record.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso's car lacked power early on due to an imposed moratorium in development and he scored nine points in the first seven races.<ref name="RFBio" /><ref name="DT2009ALO">Template:Cite news</ref> He was thereafter able to improve his performance later due to aerodynamic developments to the car's and won in Singapore and Japan;<ref name="RFBio" /> the former race saw Renault order his teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash deliberately and trigger the deployment of the safety car in what became known as "crashgate".<ref name="MMagALOBio" /> Alonso scored more points than any other driver in the final five races with 43.<ref name="DT2009ALO" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He scored 61 points for fifth in the Drivers' Championship.<ref name="MMagALOBio" />
Alonso was due to become a free agent for Template:F1 if Renault were lower than third in the Constructors' Championship.<ref name="ALOAutosportJul08">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After offers from Red Bull Racing and Honda,<ref name="ALOAutosportJul08" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> he re-signed to Renault on a two-year contract.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His car proved to be noncompetitive because it lacked a dual diffuser system and outright speed.<ref name="RFBio" /><ref name="Indy2009ALO">Template:Cite news</ref> Alonso eschewed an aerodynamic front wing mandated in an attempt to make overtaking more possible since he did not believe it would help him.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /> He scored points in eight races and achieved one podium finish: a third-place at the Template:F1GP.<ref name="GPCOMBio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso won pole position for the Template:F1GP and led the first 12 laps before he retired following an incorrectly fitted right-front wheel.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Alonso was ninth in the Drivers' Championship with 26 points,<ref name="MMagALOBio" /> his lowest placing since he came sixth in 2003;<ref name="GPCOMBio" /> he maintained his reputation as one of F1's best drivers.<ref name="MMagALOBio" />
Ferrari (2010–2014)Edit
Alonso agreed with Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo to drive for Ferrari in 2009, but team principal Jean Todt extended the contracts of both Felipe Massa and Räikkönen to Template:F1.<ref name="AAction2010ALO">Template:Cite journal</ref> Alonso obtained a mid-2009 agreement to drive for Ferrari from Template:F1 on but it was moved to 2010 after Renault were investigated for race fixing in Singapore and Räikkönen was released from the team.<ref name="GPCOMBio" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> McLaren's Hamilton and Button and Red Bull's of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were Alonso's main championship competition.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He won five races that season and entered the season-ending Template:F1 GP leading by eight points after being 47 behind mid-season following errors. Alonso finished runner-up to Vettel after finishing seventh thereby losing 19 points to Vettel who won the race.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
His 2011 season was mixed: his car was built conservatively and lacked aerodynamic grip and tyre handling in qualifying.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> He extracted additional pace from his car to claim ten podium finishes and win the Template:F1GP after a strategy error from Red Bull. His best qualification of the year was a second at the Template:F1GP and he out-qualified his teammate Massa fifteen times over the course of the season. Alonso was fourth overall with 257 points; he was in contention to finish second to eventual champion Vettel following a series of strong finishes until Webber won the season-ending Template:F1GP.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Ahead of Template:F1, Alonso extended his contract with Ferrari until Template:F1.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His main competition for the title in 2012 was Vettel.<ref name="NYT2012">Template:Cite news</ref> Wins in Malaysia, Valencia and Germany and consistent points-scoring finishes allowed him to build a 40-point lead in the Drivers' Championship. Thereafter start-line collisions, a mechanical failure and an improved performance for Vettel eliminated Alonso's points lead.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Crash2012">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso entered the season-ending Template:F1GP 13 points behind Vettel and needed to finish third and for Vettel not to score points for a third championship.<ref name="NYT2012" /> He was second and Vettel finished fourth, despite spinning on the opening lap, resigning Alonso to be runner-up for the second time in his career on 278 points.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /><ref name="Crash2012" />
To begin Template:F1, Alonso drove an aggressively designed car allowing him to win in China and Spain and consistently scored points.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /><ref name="AutosportDec13">Template:Cite journal</ref> He was slower than Vettel after a change of tyre compound at the Template:F1GP and front and rear bodywork components intended to improve his car's performance were ineffective.<ref name="AutosportDec13" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> With 242 points, Alonso was second for the third time in his career.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /> His relationship with Ferrari cooled due to his perception the team could not construct a title-winning car.<ref name="BBCALO2018P3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Alonso's 2014 season saw him achieve no race wins because his car was less powerful than the championship-winning Mercedes but took third in the Template:F1GP and second in the Template:F1 GP. Alonso fell to sixth in the Drivers' Championship with 161 points.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /><ref name="RFBio" /> He qualified faster than his teammate Räikkönen 16 times by an average of more than Template:Frac second per lap in 2014.<ref name="BBCALO2018P3" />
Return to McLaren (2015–2019)Edit
Alonso had severe disagreements with team principal Marco Mattiacci in 2014 and left Ferrari after contract negotiations to remain at the team fell through.<ref name="BBCALO2018P3" /> He rejoined McLaren on a three-year contract from Template:F1 to Template:F1 with no opt-out clauses.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> An accident during a pre-season test session at Spain's Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in February 2015 saw Alonso sustain a concussion and he was replaced by reserve driver Kevin Magnussen for the season-opening Template:F1 GP.<ref name="TNALOMiss">Template:Cite news</ref> He endured a difficult season: his car's Honda engine was under-powered and overall speed leaving him vulnerable to being passed.<ref>Template:Cite news{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso scored points twice in 2015: a tenth in the Template:F1GP and a fifth in the Template:F1GP for 17th in the Drivers' Championship with 11 points.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /> He was dissatisfied with a slow pace, which became evident after multiple radio complaints that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Despite the unreliable and noncompetitive car,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Alonso remained with McLaren for Template:F1.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Injuries from a heavy crash with Esteban Gutiérrez at the season-opening Template:F1GP caused him to miss the Template:F1GP on medical grounds and was replaced by reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He qualified better than teammate Button fifteen times and scored points nine times, which included two fifth-place finishes in the Template:F1 GP and the Template:F1 GP. He was tenth in the Drivers' Championship with 54 points.<ref name="MMagALOBio" />
Alonso stayed at McLaren in Template:F1,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but poor reliability affected his season, particularly during the early rounds, and his best finish was a sixth place in the Template:F1 GP. After three consecutive top-ten finishes, Alonso finished 15th in the Drivers' Championship with 17 points.<ref name="MMagALOBio" />
Following contract negotiations with the McLaren CEO Zak Brown,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Alonso signed a multi-year extension with McLaren on 19 October 2017.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He finished fifth at the season-opening 2018 Template:F1GP and took nine top-ten finishes.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /> Alonso out-qualified his teammate Stoffel Vandoorne at every race and drove quickly and aggressively. He became increasingly annoyed with certain drivers and his commitment to F1 waned after McLaren stopped developing their car to focus on Template:F1.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso was 11th in the Drivers' Championship with 50 points,<ref name="MMagALOBio" /> and left the sport as a driver at the end of the 2018 season, citing a perceived lack of on-track racing, the predictability of results and felt discussions away from racing about the broadcast of radio transmissions and polemics harmed the series.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
He remained at McLaren as a brand ambassador to aid and advise drivers and drove in select test sessions to develop their cars. Alonso drove the MCL34 during a two-day in-season post-race Bahrain test in April 2019 to develop tyres for Pirelli.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> No further runs were planned for him and McLaren focused on their current drivers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso's ambassador contract with McLaren expired at the end of 2019, and was not renewed for 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Alpine (2021–2022)Edit
Alonso was signed to drive for Alpine F1 Team for the Template:F1 season,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> alongside Esteban Ocon, with Renault having rebranded the team under its new name. In preparation for his F1 return, Alonso performed four testing days driving the Renault R.S.18 and was quickest in the post-2020 season young driver's test driving the Renault R.S.20 for Renault.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In his first race with Alpine at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix, Alonso was forced to retire after plastic debris entered his brake duct.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix he finished in 11th after qualifying 15th,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with teammate Ocon finishing ahead in tenth, but both were upgraded one position after Kimi Räikkönen was penalised, giving Alonso his first points of the season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In Hungary, Alonso temporarily led the race before he made a pit stop and fell to fourth, ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Teammate Ocon credited Alonso's defence against Hamilton with enabling him to achieve his first race victory.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In August 2021, Alonso invoked an option to extend his contract for the Template:F1 season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso scored points in multiple races following the summer break, finishing sixth in the Netherlands,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> eighth in Italy,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> sixth in Russia, having run in third in Russia before being forced to pit under wet conditions,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and third in Qatar.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /> His third-place finish at Qatar was his first podium finish since the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix.
For the 2022 season, Alonso remained with Alpine.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso achieved his highest start driving for Alpine during wet qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, starting in second, but had to endure questionable strategies and an engine issue that developed during the race. He dropped down to seventh, and furthermore, received a post-race time penalty that dropped him down to ninth.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Aston Martin (2023–)Edit
Alonso joined Aston Martin on a multi-year deal in Template:F1 alongside Lance Stroll.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He joined the team because he wanted a multi-year contract extension, and Alpine was only willing to give him one more year in F1.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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On his Aston Martin debut at the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix, Alonso, benefitting from the much-improved machinery of the Aston Martin AMR23, recovered from a first-lap contact with his teammate Lance Stroll without any damage and went on to finish in 3rd place, securing a podium finish and Aston's first since Sebastian Vettel's podium at the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix (the German would finish second at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix but would be disqualified due to insufficient fuel sample).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite having to serve a penalty due to his car being off-position at the starting grid, he finished in third again at the following race at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix; this marked his 100th podium, making him the sixth driver to have scored 100 podiums in his career. Following the race, he was issued another ten-second penalty due to serving the first one improperly at his pit stop, dropping him to fourth behind George Russell;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> however, the team's appeal was accepted and the second penalty was reversed, keeping his podium.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Alonso finished in third once again after a chaotic Australian Grand Prix; the third and final restart of the session saw his car make contact with the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz Jr., causing the latter driver to receive a five-second penalty; due to this, Sainz would be classified in last place out of the finishing cars. Alonso's car was undamaged.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso agreed with Sainz's criticisms of the penalty, stating that it was "too harsh".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Aston Martins were plagued with DRS issues during qualification of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, going on to qualify eighth in the new "sprint shootout" qualification<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and sixth for the main qualification session;<ref name="Qualy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> he would finish sixth in the sprint race,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and fourth in the main race.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was at this point in time the car had dropped in performance, failing to secure podiums on a consistent basis, though he took two podium finishes at Zandvoort,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> where he recorded his first fastest lap since the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and São Paulo; the latter instance edging out Sergio Pérez by 0.053 seconds.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After a seventh-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Alonso ended the season fourth in the standings, scoring 206 points against his teammate Stroll's 74. Alonso's fourth position in the standings was his highest finish since Template:F1.
At the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix, Alonso competed in his 400th Grand Prix weekend, becoming the first driver to reach this number of races.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Endurance racingEdit
Alonso made his sports car endurance racing debut at the 1999 24 Hours of Barcelona. Paired with Antonio García, Salvi Delmuns and the journalist Pedro Fermín Flores, the quartet finished third in the M10 class and tenth overall in a Hyundai Accent.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso was due to enter the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans with Porsche's Le Mans Prototype 1 team before Honda blocked it.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (2018–2019)Edit
Alonso drove a Ligier JS P217 entered by United Autosports in the 2018 24 Hours of Daytona as preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso, Philip Hanson and McLaren reserve driver Lando Norris qualified 13th and finished 38th after multiple mechanical issues affected the car during the race.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso returned to race in the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona with Wayne Taylor Racing. He shared a Cadillac DPi-V.R with Kamui Kobayashi, Renger van der Zande and Jordan Taylor. The quartet completed 593 laps to win the rain-shortened event.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
FIA World Endurance Championship (2018–2019)Edit
Brown discussed an entry for the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans with Alonso and was prepared to consent to a switch to another team if certain circumstances were met.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso and Toyota held talks and agreed to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He visited Toyota's factory in Cologne for a seat fitting in a TS050 Hybrid in November 2017.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Toyota entered Alonso into a post-season rookie test at the Bahrain International Circuit later that month.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In January 2018, McLaren and Toyota reached an agreement to allow Alonso to enter the full 2018–19 FIA World Endurance Championship.Template:Efn<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He joined Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima in Toyota's Template:Abbr 8 TS050 Hybrid.<ref name="AutocarALOWECF1Clash">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Alonso drove a 2018 TS050 Hybrid in a three-day test session at the Ciudad del Motor de Aragón in February and drove with no artificial lights in a 24-hour kart race as preparation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He, Buemi and Nakajima won the LMP1 Drivers' Championship with five victories including the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans over the eight round season, though this was enhanced by their teammates Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López suffering a sensor issue while leading the 2019 6 Hours of Spa and then suffering a puncture while comfortably leading the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans with an hour remaining.<ref name="MMagALOBio" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso left the series at the end of the season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
IndyCar SeriesEdit
_2017_Indianapolis_500.jpg){kind=link}
McLaren Honda Andretti (2017)Edit
Before the 2017 Australian Grand Prix, Zak Brown said to Alonso they should enter the 2017 Indianapolis 500 to which Alonso suggested he was joking. The idea later re-emerged in a conversation in Los Angeles, when Alonso told Brown he was happy with the idea since McLaren had won it before. He and his manager Garcia Abad met Brown and Éric Boullier in China to talk more about the plan and said he would decide the next day. Alonso told Brown he wanted to race at Indianapolis and told him it was "a good decision for everyone: a win, win for myself, for F1, the fans, everyone'."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Brown then spoke to the IndyCar Series chief executive officer Mark Miles and discovered that there were no Honda-powered cars.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Miles met the Andretti Autosport owner Michael Andretti, who got driver Stefan Wilson to agree to forego his planned entry in partnership with Michael Shank Racing and allow Alonso to drive instead.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Driving the No. 29 McLaren-Honda-Andretti Dallara DW12,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> he completed a three-stage rookie orientation programme at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on 3 May.Template:Efn<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Alonso advanced to the Fast Nine shootout in qualifying and set the fifth-fastest four-lap average speed;<ref name=Autoweek2017Indy500ALO/> in the race, he led four times for a total of 27 laps before his engine failed with 21 laps to go.<ref name=Autoweek2017Indy500ALO>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso was classified 24th.<ref name=Alonso2017ROTY>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
McLaren Racing (2019)Edit
McLaren began planning an entry for him in the 2019 IndyCar Series in August 2018 and would be supported by the series.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web
}}</ref> Alonso tested a 2018-specification Andretti Autosport-entered Dallara DW12-Honda at the Barber Motorsports Park on 5 September.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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}}</ref> McLaren opted to enter just the 2019 Indianapolis 500 due to its focus on Formula One and collaborated with Carlin Motorsport in a logistical and technical partnership and signed an engine supply deal with Chevrolet.<ref name=ALO2019IndyDNQ>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web
}}</ref> Alonso ventured to the McLaren Technology Centre in early March 2019 for a seat fitting to become comfortable in the No. 66 Dallara IR18-Chevrolet and its brake pedal was shifted away from his feet since it is used less in IndyCar than in Formula One. Andy Brown was Alonso's race engineer and his chief mechanic was Liam Dance.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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Arrow McLaren SP (2020)Edit
He entered the 2020 Indianapolis 500 with Arrow McLaren SP after an agreement with Andretti Autosports fell through.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso had a crash during practice. He qualified 26th.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso did manage to finish the race. He started 26th, was running 15th halfway through the race, and then ended up P21 and one lap down because of a clutch issue causing the team to manually start the car during every pit stop.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Off-road racingEdit
Alonso entered the Dakar Rally with Toyota in 2020 following a five-month testing programme in Africa, Europe and the Middle East and driving a series of races to better himself.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="MCOMDakarPrep">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He raced in the Lichtenburg 400 in South Africa, the Rally du Maroc in Morocco and the Al Ula–Neom Rally in Saudi Arabia,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with the five-time Dakar Rally bike class winner Marc Coma his co-driver. Alonso was third at the Al Ula-Neom Rally, which was his highest finish in three preparation events.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> With co-driver Coma, he finished the Dakar in 13th position with a best stage finish of second place.<ref name="DakharResult">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A stop for repairs on the second stage and a roll on the tenth lost him several hours in the general classification.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Driving styleEdit
Alonso is often regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers in the history of the sport.<ref name=":0">Template:Ubl</ref> Journalists and fellow drivers regarded Alonso as a fast and consistent driver who can extract additional pace from a car in all weathers and on all tracks.<ref name="AndrewBenson" /><ref name=F1MagSep12/> Fisichella said Alonso understands when to go faster and when to preserve his tyres in a race.<ref name="F1MagSep12">Template:Cite journal</ref> Former racing driver and Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle described Alonso as "Senna-like in his intimate feel for where the grip is" and cited the driver's knowledge on how much grip to use for the entry to a turn.<ref name=F1MagSep12/> He drives aggressively and uses a braking area to put a car into a corner without losing speed exiting it. This allows Alonso to keep it "on the edge of adhesion" and it has been observed during a qualifying session and the first laps of a race.<ref name="ALOWhyRace" /> 1979 world champion Jody Scheckter has criticised Alonso for causing problems in teams.Template:Clarify<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This opinion is shared by Christian Horner, who ruled out signing Alonso for Red Bull, as he caused chaos in previous teams.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Alonso's experience increased his awareness of events around him and competitors in a race and adjusted his situation to focus on the drivers' championship.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso is an all-round driver who can mount an apex and correct a sliding car to go faster.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He is careful in finding the ideal feeling with his brakes and can apply the maximum amount of force with a fast response time. Alonso's physical strength contrasts his braking skill and regularly exceeded that limit without overdoing it on multiple conditions.<ref name="MCOMALOStyle" /> According to Jonathan Noble of Motorsport.com, this allows Alonso to "create a kind of natural ABS – fully exploiting tyre grip to achieve greater speeds while turning without locking the wheels."<ref name="MCOMALOStyle">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Helmet and career numberEdit
Alonso's helmet manufactured by Bieffe (2001), Arai (2003–2009, 2016), Schuberth (2010–2015)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bell (2017–)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> sports the yellow and red colours of the flag of Spain with shades of blue from the Asturias flag and coupled with two silver thunderbolt arrows derived from a remote control car he received as a present in his childhood on top and a yellow Asturian cross (sometimes on the back, other times on the side).<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> He changed its mainbase colour design when switching teams during his F1 career; in 2008 Alonso attached two pictures of a spade, ace and heart symbol to show he was a two-time world champion.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
For three successive Monaco Grand Prix from 2011 to 2013 and at the 2011 Singapore Grand Prix, he wore a gold and white coloured helmet to replace the blue and yellow.<ref name=Helmet2011FFA/><ref>Template:Cite news
{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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His final event for Ferrari at the 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix saw him wear a helmet with a picture depicting a pit stop in that year in the colour red, signature of various team members and the flag of Italy in the centre.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the 2017 Indianapolis 500 and the 2017 United States Grand Prix, Alonso sported a black helmet with red, yellow and blue stripes around it and his race number.<ref name="2018DaytonaHelmet">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He revised the livery for the 2018 24 Hours of Daytona to white instead of black and had no stripes around the front. The back had the layout of the Daytona International Speedway and continued to have his usual blue, red and yellow colours.<ref name=2018DaytonaHelmet/>
In 2018 Alonso changed its front livery to be predominantly blue with the back top lighter blue and the rear red and yellow.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His helmet for the 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was divided equally between the flag of Spain on the right with a blue-checkered pattern around its side. The yellow on that area was replaced by gold between two horizontal stripes in red and a thick vertical strip was added with a list of Alonso's 32 F1 race victories.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
For the 2014 season, the FIA created a new regulation allowing drivers to select specific car numbers for use throughout their F1 career. Alonso requested the number 14 for it has been his lucky number since his world karting championship victory in a kart with number 14, at the age of 14, on 14 July 1996.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Driver managementEdit
Alonso operates a driver management company, A14 Management. A14 Management manages a portfolio of young drivers across several motorsport disciplines. As of 2025, this included Maximilian Günther, Clément Novalak, Nikola Tsolov, Gabriel Bortoleto, Pepe Martí, Sebastián Montoya, Han Cenyu, Andrés Cárdenas and Carl Bennett.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Image and impactEdit
Nate Saunders of ESPN writes that Alonso "is one of the most eloquent speakers in F1 and one of the best at interacting with the media".<ref name="ESPNALOSpeak">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He occasionally uses press conferences with the press to cultivate particular narratives of a story, convey himself as controlling the F1 driver market or as the one with knowledge of facts of a situation.<ref name=ESPNALOSpeak/> Alonso dislikes fame and prefers a private life,<ref name="MMagDec10">Template:Cite journal</ref> with Chris Jenkins of USA Today describing him as shy.<ref name=ALOUTBio/> He has been noted for refraining from expensive habits and possessions.<ref name="TimesALOMar06">Template:Cite news</ref>
Alonso's public persona has been noted as being different from his private personality.<ref name="TRFA201508">Template:Cite journal</ref> Fellow Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr. claimed "there are two Fernandos", alluding to Alonso's defensive nature when criticised because of his shyness, compared to his sense of humour, generosity and kind-nature when not racing.<ref name=TRFA201508/> According to the Autosport journalist Ben Anderson, Alonso's success in F1 required him to behave egotistically and selfishly and to have a self-confidence, in order to cope with the consequences of "burst[ing] egotistical bubbles" to improve himself.<ref name=TRFA201508/> Alonso acknowledged the façade and told Anderson "I know who I am outside of F1, but that remains a question mark for everybody because I like to separate my personal life from my professional life" and his different personality traits in public and private.<ref name=TRFA201508/> Alonso made a voice cameo appearance as an anthropomorphic version of himself in the Spanish dub of Cars 2 (2011),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and a voice command assistant in the Spanish dub of Cars 3 (2017).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Journalist Nigel Roebuck calls Alonso "the first world-class racing driver to come out of Spain",<ref name=MMagDec10/> and is credited for popularising F1 in the country, where it was once considered a fringe sport and a lesser known form of motorsport than motorcycling and rallying.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was Personality Media's favourite male athlete with a 99 per cent recognition rating amongst the Spanish public in 2015;<ref name="ElPaisAug15ALO">Template:Cite news</ref> in the latter part of his F1 career, Alonso was within the top two most popular drivers in the Grand Prix Drivers' Association fan surveys of 2010, 2015 and 2017.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The Fernando Alonso Sports Complex in Oviedo was opened in June 2015 and features a CIK-FIA compliant karting track featuring 29 layouts. A museum dedicated to his racing career, the 'Museo y Circuito Fernando Alonso', opened in the same year, featuring Alonso's race cars, helmets, overalls, and memorabilia.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Endorsements and philanthropyEdit
Alonso has done business with Banco Santander, Cajastur, TAG Heuer, Europcar, Silestone,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web
}}</ref> Liberbank,<ref name="LVDALiberbank19">Template:Cite news</ref> ING,<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Chandon,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Adidas,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web
}}</ref> and Bang & Olufsen.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web
}}</ref> He is the founder and brand ambassador of the fashion retailer Kimoa,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and intended to establish the Fernando Alonso Cycling Team to compete in UCI events in 2015 before the project failed to materialise.Template:Efn<ref name="ELCALOCyclingNov17">Template:Cite news</ref> As a result of Alonso's endorsement money and F1 salary, he has been listed as one of the world's highest-paid athletes by Forbes every year from 2012 to 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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Template:Cite news</ref> The magazine named him motorsport's top-earning driver from June 2012 to June 2013,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> one of 2016's top earning international stars,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web
}}</ref> and one of 2017's highest-paid international and European celebrities.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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}}</ref> Alonso also featured on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list in 2008 and 2017.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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}}</ref> In 2020, Alonso was sponsored by Ruoff Mortgage for his Indianapolis 500 attempt.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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Alonso was appointed director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) along with Mark Webber and Ralf Schumacher. He held that post from 2006 to 2010.
In November 2017 Alonso established the FA Racing G2 Logitech G eSports racing team of which he is the team principal and competes in virtual online racing championships on multiple platforms.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team dissolved in 2018 and launched another in partnership with FA Racing and Veloce Esports in March 2019.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web
}}</ref> Alonso's team has also competed in the F4 Spanish Championship, Formula Renault Eurocup and karting.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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}}</ref> He is an investor and board member of the eSports multi-racing platform Motorsport Games.<ref>Template:Cite news
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The UNICEF Spanish Committee named Alonso a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in February 2005 to promote and defend children's rights and awareness of UNICEF.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso promoted India's efforts to eradicate polio in 2011 and handwashing with soap to school children in 2012,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> whilst he also supported UNICEF's anti-cyberbullying campaign in November 2017.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso founded the Fundación Fernando Alonso (Template:Translation) in 2007 to promote motor racing and road safety education.<ref name="Helmet2011FFA">Template:Cite news</ref>
Awards and honoursEdit
Alonso received the 2003 Autosport Gregor Grant Award for winning the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web
}}</ref> He also won the Princess Cristina National Sports Award for sporting newcomer in that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Alonso was named the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy's recipient in April 2005.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> From October 2005 to May 2006 he received the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports, 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.<ref>Template:Cite news
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He was named the 2006 Autosport International Racing Driver of the Year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso was voted the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year for his performance in the 2017 Indianapolis 500.<ref name=Alonso2017ROTY/> He was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame in 2017 for being a F1 World Champion and again as a FIA World Endurance Champion in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="20MALOHoF2019">Template:Cite news</ref> This made Alonso the first driver to have been inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame twice.<ref name=20MALOHoF2019/>
Personal lifeEdit
From November 2006 to December 2011, Alonso was married to Raquel del Rosario, the lead singer of the Spanish pop band El Sueño de Morfeo.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was engaged to Spanish television presenter Lara Álvarez from 2015 to 2016.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alonso dated Italian model Linda Morselli from 2016 to 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Alonso supports the Real Madrid and Real Oviedo football teams,<ref name="20MMar07">Template:Cite news</ref> and is a cycling enthusiast.<ref name="Ravi Ubha 2014">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He is Template:Convert tall,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and speaks English, French, Italian and Spanish.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His personal garage includes such cars as the McLaren P1, Ferrari 458 Italia, Nissan GT-R, and Honda NSX.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Karting recordEdit
Karting career summaryEdit
| Season | Series | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Spanish Championship — Cadet | 2nd | |
| 1993 | Spanish Championship — Junior | 1st | |
| 1994 | Torneo delle Industrie — 100 Junior | 28th | |
| Spanish Championship — Junior | 1st | ||
| 1995 | Trofeo Andrea Margutti — 100 Junior | 19th | |
| Rainbow Trophy — Cadets | 3rd | ||
| Spanish Championship — Junior | 1st | ||
| 1996 | Torneo delle Industrie — 100 Nazionale | 28th | |
| Five Continents Cup — Junior A | 1st | ||
| Trofeo Andrea Margutti — 100 Junior | 15th | ||
| 1997 | Trofeo Andrea Margutti — ICA | 4th | |
| 1998 | Trofeo Andrea Margutti — Formula A | 7th | |
| European Championship — Formula A | 2nd | ||
| World Championship — Formula A | 26th | ||
| 1999 | Trofeo Andrea Margutti — Formula A | 5th | |
| European Championship — Formula Super A | 18th | ||
| World Championship — Formula Super A | 19th | ||
| Source:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | ||
Racing recordEdit
Racing career summaryEdit
Template:Asterisk Season still in progress.
Complete Euro Open by Nissan resultsEdit
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Campos Motorsport | ALB 1 Template:Small |
ALB 2 Template:Small |
JER 1 Template:Small |
JER 2 Template:Small |
JAR 1 Template:Small |
JAR 2 Template:Small |
MNZ 1 Template:Small |
MNZ 2 Template:Small |
JAR 1 Template:Small |
JAR 2 Template:Small |
DON 1 Template:Small |
DON 2 Template:Small |
CAT 1 Template:Small |
CAT 2 Template:Small |
VAL 1 Template:Small |
VAL 2 Template:Small |
1st | 164 |
| {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | |||||||||||||||||||
Complete International Formula 3000 resultsEdit
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | DC | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Team Astromega | IMO Template:Small |
SIL Template:Small |
CAT Template:Small |
NÜR Template:Small |
MON Template:Small |
MAG Template:Small |
A1R Template:Small |
HOC Template:Small |
HUN Template:Small |
SPA Template:Small |
4th | 17 | |
| {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | ||||||||||||||
Complete Formula One resultsEdit
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap; small number indicates the finishing position)
Template:Smallsup Did not finish, but was classified as he had completed more than 90% of the race distance.
Template:Asterisk Season still in progress.
American open-wheel racing resultsEdit
IndyCar SeriesEdit
| Year | Team | Chassis | No. | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Template:Abbr | Points | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | McLaren-Honda-Andretti | Dallara DW12 | 29 | Honda | STP | LBH | ALA | PHX | IMS | INDY Template:Small |
DET | DET | TXS | RDA | IOW | TOR | MDO | POC | GTW | WGL | SNM | 29th | 47 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 2019 | McLaren Racing | 66 | Chevrolet | STP | COA | ALA | LBH | IMS | INDY Template:Small |
DET | DET | TXS | RDA | TOR | IOW | MDO | POC | GTW | POR | LAG | – | 0 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| 2020 | Arrow McLaren SP | TXS | IMS | ROA | ROA | IOW | IOW | INDY Template:Small |
GTW | GTW | MDO | MDO | IMS | IMS | STP | 31st | 18 | citation | CitationClass=web
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Indianapolis 500Edit
| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Dallara | Honda | 5 | 24 | McLaren-Honda-Andretti |
| 2019 | Dallara | Chevrolet | DNQ | McLaren Racing | |
| 2020 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 26 | 21 | Arrow McLaren SP |
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IMSA SportsCar ChampionshipEdit
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Template:Abbr | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | United Autosports | P | Ligier JS P217 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | DAY Template:Small |
SEB | LBH | MDO | DET | WGL | MOS | ELK | LGA | PET | 58th | 18 |
| 2019 | Konica Minolta Cadillac | DPi | Cadillac DPi-V.R | Cadillac 5.5 L V8 | DAY Template:Small |
SEB | LBH | MDO | DET | WGL | MOS | ELK | LGA | PET | 27th | 35 |
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24 Hours of DaytonaEdit
| Year | Team | Co-drivers | Car | Class | Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Template:Flagicon United Autosports | Template:Flagicon Philip Hanson Template:Flagicon Lando Norris |
Ligier JS P217-Gibson | P | 718 | 38th | 13th |
| 2019 | Template:Flagicon Konica Minolta Cadillac | Template:Flagicon Kamui Kobayashi Template:Flagicon Jordan Taylor Template:Flagicon Renger van der Zande |
Cadillac DPi-V.R | DPi | 593 | 1st | 1st |
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Complete FIA World Endurance Championship resultsEdit
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Template:Abbr | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Toyota Gazoo Racing | LMP1 | Toyota TS050 Hybrid | Toyota 2.4 L Turbo V6 (Hybrid) | SPA Template:Small |
LMS Template:Small |
SIL Template:Small |
FUJ Template:Small |
SHA Template:Small |
SEB Template:Small |
SPA Template:Small |
LMS Template:Small |
1st | 198 |
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24 Hours of Le Mans resultsEdit
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:24hLM | Template:Flagicon Toyota Gazoo Racing | Template:Flagicon Sébastien Buemi Template:Flagicon Kazuki Nakajima |
Toyota TS050 Hybrid | LMP1 | 388 | 1st | 1st |
| Template:24hLM | Template:Flagicon Toyota Gazoo Racing | Template:Flagicon Sébastien Buemi Template:Flagicon Kazuki Nakajima |
Toyota TS050 Hybrid | LMP1 | 385 | 1st | 1st |
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Dakar Rally resultsEdit
| Year | Class | Vehicle | Position | Stages won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Car | Template:Flagicon Toyota | 13th | 0 |
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Formula One recordsEdit
Template:As of, Alonso holds the following Formula One records:
Notes and referencesEdit
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Sister project Template:Sister project
- Template:Official website
- Profile – from Formula 1 official website
- Profile – from McLaren official website
- Career statistics
- Fernando Alonso statistics
- [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 1898955
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Template:Navboxes Template:Navboxes Template:Formula One drivers from Spain Template:Authority control