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Fernando Alonso's standout performances first grabbed attention: skillfully driving an uncompetitive Minardi to an unlikely 11th place at Suzuka in 2001; suddenly emerging to claim his first pole position in Malaysia 2003; and becoming the youngest-ever Grand Prix winner at Hungary later that year, surpassing Bruce McLaren's 1959 record, all executed with remarkable ease.
His determination clear, Alonso's move to Renault gave him the tools to realize his ambitions.
With the 2005 R25, the glimpses of greatness became fully honed. This was evident at the San Marino Grand Prix, where his precise defense of the lead kept the relentless world champion Michael Schumacher at bay, showcasing the poise of a seasoned veteran rather than a hungry rookie.
Victories flowed rapidly: seven wins by season's end, complemented by a consistent string of podiums—five second places and three thirds—that solidified his path to the championship. His world title was earned with the experience of a master, not the uncertainty of a newcomer.
He clinched the championship in Brazil, finishing third behind two McLarens. On the podium, Ron Dennis quietly hinted that Alonso’s future lay with McLaren.
A deal was swiftly made for 2007, leaving Alonso to race for Renault in 2006. That year, Schumacher returned as a formidable rival, and Ferrari pulled out all stops to challenge Alonso.
The season was intense and fraught with tension, but Alonso prevailed by calculating points whenever outright speed was lacking. He notched seven wins and seven second-place finishes.
With his 2006 title, Alonso became the youngest double world champion in the sport at that time.
Riding this wave, he made a strong impression at McLaren in 2007, winning his second race for the team and helping restore McLaren to the front after a disappointing previous year.
Further victories followed—leading a heartfelt McLaren one-two at Monaco, demonstrating controlled aggression for a win at the Nürburgring, and dominating at Monza. However, his rookie teammate Lewis Hamilton also claimed four wins, and despite McLaren’s efforts, Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen edged out the title by a single point at the final race in Brazil.
Though missing the title was disappointing, it was overshadowed by off-track conflicts that led to Alonso and McLaren parting ways. Alonso returned to Renault for two largely uncompetitive seasons before joining Ferrari in 2010.
His time at Ferrari was a mix of highs and lows—winning his first race in red at Bahrain in 2010 but losing the championship that year by a narrow margin due to a costly strategic error in Abu Dhabi.
In 2011, he secured one win at Silverstone and then led a valiant challenge against reigning champion Sebastian Vettel in 2012, capturing three wins despite driving a Ferrari that was often less competitive. Yet again, his title bid collapsed at the final race.
Though Ferrari’s competitiveness waned in his final seasons there, Alonso’s tenure reinforced his standing as one of the sport’s greatest and most respected drivers. While statistics may not fully capture his achievements, history will remember Alonso as a driver who stood above his peers in talent and reputation.
At McLaren-Honda, he pledged to restore the team to the top step of the podium, inspired by his childhood hero Ayrton Senna.
Despite never having a McLaren-Honda car that matched his abilities, Alonso's determination remained strong. His 2016 performances, when given any chance, were exceptional, and he described that season as one of his best due to his confidence in extracting the maximum from the car.
His second stint at McLaren from 2015 to 2018 brought no further victories.
After a two-year break, Alonso returned to Formula One in 2021 with Alpine. He earned his first podium in seven years at the Qatar Grand Prix. In 2022, at the Singapore Grand Prix, he set the record for most Formula One starts. Moving to Aston Martin in 2023, Alonso enjoyed a strong start with six podiums in the first eight races. At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he secured his 100th podium by finishing third, becoming only the sixth driver in F1 history to reach this milestone.
Alonso has won 32 Grands Prix, secured 22 pole positions, and amassed 2,267 points over 377 starts. He remains the only Spanish Formula One World Champion. Until Carlos Sainz's first win at the 2022 British Grand Prix, Alonso was the sole Spanish Grand Prix winner. Additionally, Alonso won the 2001 Race of Champions Nations Cup alongside rally driver Jesús Puras and motorcyclist Rubén Xaus for Team Spain and made three appearances in the Indianapolis 500 in 2017, 2019, and 2020.
