Fernando Alonso information & statistics

Biography

Fernando Alonso Biography

Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso’s obsession with winning a deserved third world championship has seen him return to McLaren-Honda to try and find success.

The Spaniard will go down as one of the sport’s all-time greats when he retires. But if he doesn't manage to earn a third title then there will be a strange sense that his career has been unfulfilled. Alonso needs, and deserves, that third world title to cement his legacy.

In a generation of some of the greatest drivers the sport has ever seen, such as Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen, Alonso stands above them all.

His tenacity, determination, race craft, will to win and, obviously, his speed combine to make him the fiercest driver on the grid, and the best in the world.

Fernando Alonso driving the Minardi in 2001

Alonso got his first taste of racing as a young child, when his father built a go-kart for his sister. She didn't get the hang of it, but he certainly did.

Three consecutive karting championships in the mid-1990s, led him to the Nissan Euro-Open series in 1999, where he became champion.

After a year in Formula 3000, Minardi called and a 19-year-old Alonso was racing in Formula 1 in 2001. It’s difficult to impress at the sport’s slowest team, but the then teenager shone and he earned a move to Renault in 2002, as a test driver.

Alonso signed on the premise that he would be racing properly in 2003, and he duly partnered Jarno Trulli that year. Renault had a quick car, but it wouldn't have been able to have won a race, like it did in Hungary that season, if it wasn't driven by a genius.

Fernando Alonso driving th Renault R25 at the 2005 Malaysian F1 GP

Alonso lapped the then five-time champion Michael Schumacher on the way to his maiden win.

The Spaniard was clearly a world champion in the making, and after a two strong seasons in 2003 and 2004, he realised his dream the following year.

Schumacher’s dominance at Ferrari was over, and Alonso was at the forefront of the sport’s new era. In his Renault, he won seven races over the course of the season, while his relentless consistency saw him pick up a further eight podiums. He piped Kimi Raikkonen by 22 points.

The following year, Schumacher returned to his best form. and he and Alonso fought over the 2006 championship. The Spaniard’s brilliant start to the season, which saw him win six times in the opening nine races, set him up perfectly and, although Schumacher came close to snatching glory, Alonso clinched his second straight world title.

Fernando Alonso McLaren MP4-22 (2007)

Renault’s stranglehold over the sport’s bigger teams was unlikely to last, and so it proved Alonso when moved to McLaren in 2007.

He was partnered by rookie Lewis Hamilton, and the pair, famously, didn't get on. Alonso felt that the team had broken promises, which guaranteed he was the number one driver and should receive preferential treatment.

As the season continued, Alonso’s behaviour became petulant. In Hungary, he blocked Hamilton from setting a meaningful lap time in qualifying. As a result, he was handed a penalty himself.

In the background, McLaren were caught with secret Ferrari documents. It is said that Alonso testified against his own team in court, which resulted in a world record $100m fine. It was safe to say, he wasn’t going to last long with the team.

2008 Renault RS28 driven by Fernando Alonso who won in Singapore

After both he and Hamilton narrowly lost out on the title to Raikkonen, Alonso moved back to Renault. However, the French outfit was a shadow of its former self.

In a car that was fighting for the lower end of the points, Alonso hit a purple patch of form. Luck appeared to help him win in Singapore, after his team-mate, Nelson Piquet. Jr, crashed into a wall.

It later came out that this was done on purpose and was organised by the team. He denied having any knowledge at all.

However, his win in Japan was genuine, and brilliantly driven. To highlight his fine season, Piquet ended the year with 19 points. Alonso scored 61 points that 2008 F1 season.

Fernando Alonso Ferrari F150 Brazil (2011)

It was obvious that he was waiting for the right move, but 2009 didn't present any exiting opportunities. A second year heralded with Renault brought just 26 points. It was obvious that the time had come to find a team that could give him a race winning car.

Step in Ferrari. The Italian team had given up with Raikkonen and signed Alonso on a five-year deal. He won his first race in Bahrain and was at the forefront of one of the best title fights in years.

Further wins in Germany, Italy, Singapore and Korea put him on the brink of the world championship in Abu Dhabi. But a poor strategic call by the team lost him crucial ground that he couldn't make up. Sebastian Vettel snatched the title, but, in truth, it was gifted to him.

Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher (his last podium) 2012 Sevilla European GP

The young German then strolled to his second title in 2011, but Alonso and Ferrari put up a much better fight in 2012.

Wins in Malaysia, Valencia and Germany put him in a strong position at the half-way stage, but Ferrari couldn’t develop their car as well as Red Bull.

Vettel came back strongly and ate into Alonso’s lead by winning a string of races.

In the final race, Alonso finished second. Vettel, who crashed on the opening lap, recovered to finish sixth and won the title, just.

The staggering performance of Alonso over the course of that season won him many admirers, after his reputation took a serious hit in 2007.

But Ferrari failed to give their star driver a capable car in either 2013 or 2014. Frustration took hold of Alonso, and he decided he’d had enough. 

Fernando Alonso, McLaren MCL32 Honda.United States of America 2017

McLaren, backed by new engine supplier Honda, made their move to bring him back and “finish what we started.”

Alonso and McLaren, have their backs against the wall. But that’s just how they like it as they hope to prove the doubters wrong and start winning together again. The adventure with the Honda power unit unit was a clear disaster.

Even Ron Dennis had to clear the scene and season 2015, 2016 and 2017 were a nightmare. In those seasons Alonso retired 21 times, had 10 power unit failures and didn't score a single podium. His best results were three 5th place finishes.

Alonso could not cope with his frustration and sometimes was screaming on the radio about the poor engine performance. To get his head in a better mood he even took part on the Indianapolis 500 and showed the American's a taste of his racing skill by taking the lead in the race. Ironically he had to retire with an engine failure. The engine they used was from Honda.

At the end of the 2017 season the news came out that Mclaren will switch their Honda power units with the Renault power unit of Toro Rosso for the 2018 season.

In the first race of 2018 in Melbourne Alonso finished 5th and was able to keep Red Bull driver Max Verstappen behind him for 20 laps. Afther he crossed the finish he was very glad he could fight again with another driver on the track and shared his relieve on the radio to his team.

Helmets

Fernando Alonso Helmets

Championships

Fernando Alonso F1 Championship Season Results

Fernando Alonso F1 Championships Summary

Year	Team	Engine	Races	1st	2nd	3rd	Podiums	Poles	Laps	Fastest	Avg Pts	Points
2018	McLaren	Renault	3	0	0	0	0	0	170	0	7.33	22
2017	McLaren	Honda	18	0	0	0	0	0	833	1	0.94	17
2016	McLaren	Honda	20	0	0	0	0	0	1126	1	2.70	54
2015	McLaren	Honda	18	0	0	0	0	0	751	0	0.61	11
2014	Ferrari	Ferrari	18	0	1	1	2	0	1066	0	8.94	161
2013	Ferrari	Ferrari	19	2	5	2	9	0	1076	1	12.74	242
2012	Ferrari	Ferrari	20	3	5	5	13	2	1095	0	13.90	278
2011	Ferrari	Mercedes	19	1	5	4	10	0	1098	1	13.53	257
2010	Ferrari	Ferrari	19	5	2	3	10	2	1120	5	13.26	252
2009	Renault	Renault	17	0	0	1	1	1	843	2	1.53	26
2008	Renault	Renault	18	2	1	0	3	0	1000	0	3.39	61
2007	McLaren	Mercedes	17	4	4	4	12	2	1039	3	6.41	109
2006	Renault	Renault	18	7	7	0	14	6	1108	5	7.44	134
2005	Renault	Renault	18	7	5	3	15	6	1074	2	7.39	133
2004	Renault	Renault	18	0	1	3	4	1	949	0	3.28	59
2003	Renault	Renault	16	1	1	2	4	2	892	1	3.44	55
2001	Minardi	European	17	0	0	0	0	0	707	0	0.00	0

Races

Fernando Alonso F1 GP Race Classifications

Fernando Alonso F1 GP Race Results

Podiums

Fernando Alonso F1 Podium Finishes

Poles

Fernando Alonso F1 Pole Positions

Teammate Comparison

Fernando Alonso Teammate Comparison

News

Latest Fernando Alonso News

Monaco GP: Things You Must Know About Monte Carlo Race Track

Formula One Racing is easily one of the most popular sports across the globe and Monaco Grand Prix is its one of the most prestigious races. Even though Monaco is just a small dot..

April 17, 2018 with 0 Comments.

Alonso 'sad' about McLaren situation

Apr.17 - Fernando Alonso has admitted that McLaren's lack of performance in 2018 makes him "sad". The Spaniard has been upbeat about the British team's chances in the wake of the..

April 17, 2018 with 1 Comment.

Haas rejects Alonso rumour

Apr.14 - Haas has rejected a sensational rumour suggesting Fernando Alonso might move to the American team for 2019. The news was first reported by Diario Gol, saying that Haas..

April 14, 2018 with 1 Comment.

Alonso denies wanting Ferrari or Mercedes switch

Apr.13 - Fernando Alonso has played down suggestions McLaren is still not out of crisis even after dumping Honda. After blaming its woeful performance between 2015 and 2017 on the..

April 13, 2018 with 0 Comments.

Thursday Press Conference Transcript Bahrain 2018

DRIVERS: Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), Kimi RÄIKKÖNEN (Ferrari), Fernando Alonso (McLaren) PRESS CONFERENCE Kimi, if we can start with you. It was third place in Australia for..

April 5, 2018 with 0 Comments.

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