Fernando Alonso facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fernando Alonso
Alonso in 2017
Born	Fernando Alonso Díaz (1981-07-29) 29 July 1981 (age 44) Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
Spouse(s)	Raquel del Rosario ​ ​ (m. 2006; div. 2011)​
Partner(s)	Lara Álvarez (2014–2016) Linda Morselli (2016–2021)
Awards	Full list
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	Spanish
Car number	14
Entries	409 (406 starts)
Championships	2 (2005, 2006)
Wins	32
Podiums	106
Career points	2337
Pole positions	22
Fastest laps	26
First entry	2001 Australian Grand Prix
First win	2003 Hungarian Grand Prix
Last win	2013 Spanish Grand Prix
Last entry	2019 Monaco Grand Prix
2024 position	9th (70 pts)
FIA World Endurance Championship career
Racing licence	FIA Platinum
Years active	2018–19
Teams	Toyota
Starts	8
Championships	1 (2018–19)
Wins	5
Podiums	7
Poles	4
Fastest laps	2
Best finish	1st in 2018–19 (LMP1)
IndyCar Series career
2 races run over 3 years
Team(s)	Arrow McLaren
Best finish	21st (2017)
First race	2017 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Last race	2020 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles 0 0 0
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years	2018–2019
Teams	Toyota
Best finish	1st (2018, 2019)
Class wins	2 (2018, 2019)
Previous series
2000 1999	International F3000 Euro Open by Nissan
Championship titles
2019 1999	24 Hours of Daytona Euro Open by Nissan
Medal record Motor racing Representing  Spain Race of Champions Winner 2001 Gran Canaria Team
Signature

Fernando Alonso Díaz (born July 29, 1981) is a Spanish racing driver. He competes in Formula One for Aston Martin. Alonso has won two Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles. He won them in 2005 and 2006 with Renault. He has also won 32 Grands Prix over 22 seasons.

Beyond Formula One, Alonso has achieved great success in endurance racing. He won the 2018–19 FIA World Endurance Championship. He is also a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Toyota. He is the only driver to win both the Formula One World Drivers' Championship and the World Sportscar/World Endurance Drivers' Championship. In 2019, he won the 24 Hours of Daytona with WTR.

Alonso was born and grew up in Oviedo, Spain. He started kart racing at age three. He won many regional and national titles. He moved to professional junior racing at 17. He won the Euro Open by Nissan in 1999. He then finished fourth in International Formula 3000. Alonso joined Minardi in 2001, making his Formula One debut.

After a year with no points, he became a test driver for Renault in 2002. He was promoted to a full-time driver in 2003. He became the youngest driver to get a pole position and youngest race winner that year. Alonso won his first F1 title in 2005, becoming the first Spanish World Drivers' Champion. He was also the youngest champion at 24. He won his second title in 2006.

Alonso moved to McLaren for 2007. He finished third in the championship. He returned to Renault for 2008 and 2009. He then joined Ferrari in 2010. He finished second in the championship three times with Ferrari. After a tough 2014 season, Alonso returned to McLaren in 2015. He stayed until 2018 before retiring from F1 for a short time.

He then raced in sportscar racing with Toyota. He won the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice. Alonso came back to Formula One in 2021 with Alpine. He got his first podium in seven years at the Qatar Grand Prix Grand Prix. In 2022, he broke the record for most career starts. Alonso moved to Aston Martin for 2023. He achieved several podiums and finished fourth in the championship. He scored his 100th career podium at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Grand Prix. In 2024, he became the first driver to compete in 400 Grands Prix.

As of the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix, Alonso has 32 race wins, 22 pole positions, 26 fastest laps, and 106 podiums in Formula One. He is set to stay at Aston Martin until at least the end of the 2026 season. He holds many Formula One records due to his long career. Alonso also won the 2001 Race of Champions Nations' Cup. He raced in the Indianapolis 500 three times. He also manages young drivers and is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Early Life and Karting Career

Fernando Alonso was born on July 29, 1981, in Oviedo, Spain. His father, José Luis Alonso, was a mechanic and amateur kart driver. His mother, Ana Díaz, worked in a department store. Fernando has an older sister named Lorena, who is a doctor.

He went to Holy Guardian Angel Primary School in Oviedo from 1985 to 1995. He later attended Institute Leopoldo Alas Clarín. He left school in 2000 to focus on his racing career. He was allowed to study from home and did well in his classes.

The first go-kart driven by Alonso, which his elder sister did not want to drive

Alonso's father built a go-kart for Lorena, but she was not interested. So, three-year-old Fernando got the kart. The pedals were changed so he could drive it. He got a racing license at age five. His family did not have much money for karting. They could not buy rain tyres, so Alonso learned to drive on wet tracks with slick tyres. He even practiced timing himself on his way to school.

His mother sewed his racing suits and made sure he did well in school. His father helped him with everything, from driving the kart to managing his money.

At seven, Alonso won his first kart race. He won championships in Asturias and Galicia in 1988 and 1989. He moved to the Cadet class in 1990. A go-kart importer, Genís Marcó, was impressed by Alonso. Marcó helped find money for Alonso's family so he could race in European series.

The go-kart Alonso drove to win the Karting World Championship in 1996

Alonso won the 1990 Asturias and Basque Country Cadet Championship. He finished second in the 1991 Spanish Cadet National Championship. He was allowed to race in the more powerful 100cc class even though he was young. He won three Spanish Junior National Championships from 1993 to 1995.

These wins helped him move to world championships. In 1995, he was third in the CIK-FIA Cadets' Rainbow Trophy. Alonso also worked as a mechanic for younger kart drivers to earn money. In 1996, he won his fourth Spanish Junior Karting Championship and the CIK-FIA 5 Continents Juniors Cup. In 1997, he won the Italian and Spanish International A championships. He finished second in the European Championship.

Motor Racing Career

Junior Racing

The Lola B99/50 Alonso drove in the 2000 International Formula 3000 Championship.

At 17, Alonso started car racing in the 1999 Euro Open by Nissan. He raced with Campos Motorsport. He won the title in the last race, with six wins and nine pole positions. In 2000, he moved to International Formula 3000. He raced for Minardi-backed Team Astromega. Alonso finished second at the Hungaroring and won the final race in Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. He ended the season fourth overall.

Formula One Career

Minardi and Renault (2001–2006)

Alonso first tested a Formula One (F1) car in December 1999. This was part of a prize for winning the Euro Open by Nissan. He became Minardi's test and reserve driver in 2000. He then joined their race team in 2001. His best result that season was tenth place in Germany. He did not score any points.

Alonso at the 2003 British Grand Prix

In 2002, he became a test driver for Renault. This helped him learn about the team. He worked with engineers to improve other drivers' performance. Alonso was promoted to a full-time Renault driver for 2003. He became the youngest driver to get a pole position in Malaysia. He also became the youngest F1 race winner in Hungary. He had four podium finishes in 2003 and finished sixth in the championship.

He stayed with Renault for 2004. Alonso had a better season, with four podium finishes. He took pole position in France. He did not win any races but finished fourth in the championship. Alonso continued with Renault in 2005. He battled McLaren driver Kimi Räikkönen for the championship. Alonso's car was more reliable, even if it was not as fast. He became the youngest World Drivers' Champion. He won seven races, six pole positions, and fourteen podiums.

Alonso won his second World Drivers' Championship at the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix

Alonso signed to stay with Renault for 2006. He was expected to win the championship again. His main rival was Michael Schumacher from Ferrari. Alonso won six of the first nine races. He finished no lower than second in those races. The FIA banned a device on Renault's car, which slowed Alonso. Schumacher's Ferrari improved, and they were tied on points before the second-to-last race. Alonso won that race after Schumacher retired. He secured his second title by finishing second in the final race. He became F1's youngest double World Champion.

McLaren and Second Stint with Renault (2007–2009)

Alonso secretly met McLaren team owner Ron Dennis and agreed to drive for McLaren from 2007. His contract with Renault ended on December 31, 2006. He tested for McLaren in November 2006. His main rivals in 2007 were his teammate Lewis Hamilton and Räikkönen. Alonso won four Grands Prix. He led the championship until Hamilton passed him. He finished third overall with 109 points, the same as Hamilton.

Alonso took a controversial victory at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, after his teammate, Nelson Piquet Jr., was ordered to crash deliberately.

Alonso and Hamilton had several issues during the season. These included the espionage scandal and a problem during qualifying in Hungary. Alonso and McLaren ended their contract in November. Alonso rejoined Renault for 2008. His car was not powerful early in the season. Later, car improvements helped him win in Singapore and Japan. The Singapore race was controversial because his teammate was told to crash on purpose. Alonso finished fifth in the Drivers' Championship.

Alonso signed a new two-year contract with Renault for 2009. His car was not competitive that year. He scored points in eight races and had one podium finish, a third place in Singapore. He took pole position in Hungary but retired from the race. Alonso finished ninth in the Drivers' Championship.

Ferrari (2010–2014)

Alonso won on his debut with Ferrari at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Alonso joined Ferrari in 2010. His main rivals were Hamilton, Button, Sebastian Vettel, and Mark Webber. He won five races that season. He led the championship going into the final race. However, he finished seventh in that race, and Vettel won. Alonso ended up second in the championship.

His 2011 season was mixed. His car lacked grip and struggled with tires in qualifying. He still managed ten podium finishes. He won the British Grand Prix due to a strategy error by Red Bull. Alonso finished fourth overall.

Alonso at the 2012 German Grand Prix

Before 2012, Alonso extended his contract with Ferrari until 2016. His main rival for the title was Vettel. Wins in Malaysia, Valencia, and Germany helped him build a 40-point lead. However, collisions and mechanical issues later in the season reduced his lead. Alonso entered the final race 13 points behind Vettel. He finished second in the race, and Vettel finished fourth. Alonso was runner-up for the second time.

In 2013, Alonso drove an aggressive car. He won in China and Spain. He consistently scored points. However, he was slower than Vettel after a tire change. Alonso finished second in the championship for the third time. His relationship with Ferrari became strained.

Alonso did not win any races in 2014. His car was less powerful than the Mercedes cars. He finished third in China and second in Hungary. Alonso dropped to sixth in the Drivers' Championship.

Return to McLaren (2015–2019)

Alonso left Ferrari after disagreements with the team. He rejoined McLaren on a three-year contract from 2015. He had an accident during a pre-season test. He missed the first race and was replaced by Kevin Magnussen. He had a difficult season because his Honda engine was not powerful enough. Alonso scored points only twice in 2015. He finished 17th in the Drivers' Championship.

Alonso at the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix

Alonso stayed with McLaren for 2016. He missed the Bahrain Grand Prix due to injuries from a crash in Australia. He qualified better than his teammate Jenson Button fifteen times. He scored points nine times, including two fifth-place finishes. He finished tenth in the Drivers' Championship.

Alonso continued with McLaren in 2017. Poor reliability affected his season. His best finish was sixth place in Hungary. He finished 15th in the Drivers' Championship.

Alonso at the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix

Alonso signed a new contract with McLaren in October 2017. He finished fifth in the opening race of 2018. He had nine top-ten finishes. Alonso out-qualified his teammate Stoffel Vandoorne in every race. He became frustrated as McLaren stopped developing their car. Alonso finished 11th in the Drivers' Championship. He left F1 as a driver at the end of 2018. He felt there was not enough exciting racing.

He remained a brand ambassador for McLaren. He helped advise drivers and tested cars. His contract with McLaren ended in 2019.

Alpine (2021–2022)

Alonso at the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix, upon his return to Formula One

Alonso signed to drive for Alpine F1 Team for the 2021 season. His teammate was Esteban Ocon. He did testing to prepare for his F1 return. In his first race with Alpine, he had to retire due to debris. At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, he finished 11th, scoring his first points.

In Hungary, Alonso briefly led the race. He finished fourth, helping his teammate Ocon win his first race. In August 2021, Alonso extended his contract for the 2022 season. He scored points in many races after the summer break. He finished third in Qatar, his first podium since 2014.

For the 2022 season, Alonso stayed with Alpine. He started second in Canada after a great qualifying. However, he had strategy issues and an engine problem. He dropped to seventh and received a penalty, finishing ninth.

Aston Martin (2023–Present)

Alonso joined Aston Martin for 2023. He signed a multi-year deal. He joined because he wanted a longer contract, and Alpine only offered one year.

Alonso at the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, with Aston Martin

Alonso at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, with Aston Martin

In his first race with Aston Martin, he finished third. This was Aston Martin's first podium since 2021. He finished third again in Saudi Arabia, marking his 100th career podium. He became the sixth driver to reach this milestone. He finished third once more in Australia.

The car's performance dropped later in the season. He still managed two more podiums in the Netherlands and São Paulo. Alonso finished fourth in the standings for 2023, his highest finish since 2013. In 2024, he became the first driver to compete in 400 Grand Prix weekends.

Endurance Racing

Alonso first raced in sports car endurance at the 1999 24 Hours of Barcelona. He finished third in his class and tenth overall.

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (2018–2019)

The Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R driven in the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona (pictured at the 2017 Petit Le Mans).

Alonso raced in the 2018 24 Hours of Daytona. He finished 38th after mechanical problems. He returned for the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona. He shared a Cadillac DPi-V.R with other drivers. They won the race, which was shortened due to rain.

FIA World Endurance Championship (2018–2019)

Alonso driving a Toyota TS050 Hybrid at the 2018 6 Hours of Silverstone.

McLaren and Toyota agreed to let Alonso race in the 2018–19 FIA World Endurance Championship. He joined Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima in Toyota's car.

Alonso driving at the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans

Alonso, Buemi, and Nakajima won the LMP1 Drivers' Championship. They had five victories, including the 2018 and 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans. Alonso left the series after that season.

IndyCar Series

Alonso's car prior to the 2017 Indianapolis 500.

McLaren Honda Andretti (2017)

Alonso decided to enter the 2017 Indianapolis 500. He drove for McLaren-Honda-Andretti. He qualified fifth fastest. In the race, he led for 27 laps. His engine failed with 21 laps left. Alonso was classified 24th.

McLaren Racing (2019)

Alonso at the 2019 Indianapolis 500

McLaren planned for Alonso to race in the 2019 IndyCar Series. They decided to only enter the 2019 Indianapolis 500. Alonso did not qualify for the race. Problems included a crashed car and incorrect gear ratios.

Arrow McLaren SP (2020)

He entered the 2020 Indianapolis 500 with Arrow McLaren SP. He had a crash during practice. He qualified 26th. Alonso finished the race in 21st place. He was one lap down due to a clutch issue.

Off-Road Racing

Alonso entered the Dakar Rally in 2020. He trained for five months in different regions. He raced in several events to prepare. His co-driver was Marc Coma. Alonso finished 13th in the Dakar Rally. He had a best stage finish of second place.

Driving Style

Many people consider Alonso one of the greatest F1 drivers. He is known for being fast and consistent. He can get extra speed from his car in any weather. He understands when to push and when to save his tires. He drives aggressively and brakes late into corners. This allows him to maintain speed when exiting turns.

Alonso's experience helps him understand races better. He focuses on the championship. He is a well-rounded driver. He can correct a sliding car to go faster. He is very skilled with his brakes. He can apply maximum force without overdoing it. This helps him achieve higher speeds while turning.

Helmet and Career Number

Alonso's Arai helmet used during the 2006 Formula One World Championship

Alonso's helmet colors are yellow and red, like the flag of Spain. It also has shades of blue from the Asturias flag. It features two silver lightning bolt arrows. These come from a remote control car he got as a child. He changed the main color when he switched teams. In 2008, he added symbols to show he was a two-time world champion.

The racing helmet Alonso wore at the 2013 Indian Grand Prix to commemorate him scoring 1571 career points

For some Monaco Grands Prix, he wore a gold and white helmet. At the 2013 Indian Grand Prix, he wore a white helmet. It celebrated his total career points, 1571, with "F1 points World Record" written on it.

For his last race with Ferrari in 2014, he wore a special helmet. It had a picture of a pit stop and signatures from team members. At the 2017 Indianapolis 500, he wore a black helmet with red, yellow, and blue stripes. He changed the design for the 2018 24 Hours of Daytona.

In 2014, F1 drivers could choose their career numbers. Alonso chose number 14. It has been his lucky number since he won a karting championship at age 14, on July 14, 1996, with a kart numbered 14.

Driver Management

Alonso runs a company called A14 Management. This company helps manage young drivers in different types of motorsport. As of 2025, it includes drivers like Maximilian Günther and Gabriel Bortoleto.

Image and Impact

Nate Saunders of ESPN says Alonso is great at talking to the media. He sometimes uses press conferences to share his views. Alonso prefers a private life and dislikes fame. He is known for not having expensive habits.

Alonso at the 2015 Honda Racing Thanks Day

Alonso's public image is different from his private personality. Fellow driver Carlos Sainz Jr. said there are "two Fernandos." He is defensive when criticized but has a good sense of humor in private. Alonso knows he acts differently in public. He likes to keep his personal life separate from his professional life. Alonso also voiced an animated car in the Spanish versions of Cars 2 (2011) and Cars 3 (2017).

Journalist Nigel Roebuck calls Alonso "the first world-class racing driver to come out of Spain." Alonso is credited with making F1 popular in Spain. Before him, motorcycling and rallying were more well-known. In 2015, he was a favorite male athlete in Spain. He has been one of the most popular F1 drivers in fan surveys.

The Fernando Alonso Sports Complex opened in Oviedo in June 2015. It has a karting track. A museum about his racing career, 'Museo y Circuito Fernando Alonso', also opened that year. It shows his race cars, helmets, and other items.

Endorsements and Philanthropy

Alonso has worked with many companies like Banco Santander and Adidas. He founded a fashion brand called Kimoa. He was listed as one of the world's highest-paid athletes by Forbes from 2012 to 2018.

Alonso was a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) from 2006 to 2010.

In November 2017, Alonso started the FA Racing G2 Logitech G eSports racing team. He is the team principal. The team competes in online racing championships. He is also an investor in Motorsport Games.

The UNICEF Spanish Committee named Alonso a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in February 2005. He helps promote children's rights. He supported efforts to end polio in India and promoted handwashing. He also supported UNICEF's anti-cyberbullying campaign. Alonso founded the Fundación Fernando Alonso in 2007. It promotes motor racing and road safety education.

Awards and Honours

Alonso received the 2003 Autosport Gregor Grant Award. He also won the Princess Cristina National Sports Award. He received the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy in April 2005. From October 2005 to May 2006, he received the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports and the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit for winning the 2005 F1 World Championship.

He was named the 2006 Autosport International Racing Driver of the Year. Alonso was voted the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year in 2017. He was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame in 2017 for his F1 titles. He was inducted again in 2019 as a FIA World Endurance Champion. This made him the first driver inducted twice.

Personal Life

Alonso was married to Raquel del Rosario, a singer, from 2006 to 2011. He was engaged to TV presenter Lara Álvarez from 2015 to 2016. He dated Italian model Linda Morselli from 2016 to 2021.

Alonso supports the Real Madrid and Real Oviedo football teams. He enjoys cycling. He is 171 cm (5 ft 7 in) tall. He speaks English, French, Italian, and Spanish. He owns cars like the McLaren P1 and Ferrari 458 Italia.

Karting Record Summary

Racing Career Summary

* Season still in progress.

Images for kids

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  Alonso at the 2003 British Grand Prix

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  Alonso won his second World Drivers' Championship at the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix

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  Alonso en route to victory at the 2007 Malaysian Grand Prix

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  Alonso took a controversial victory at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix

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  Alonso won on his debut with Ferrari at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix

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  Alonso at the 2012 German Grand Prix

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  Alonso at the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix

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  Alonso at the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix

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  Alonso at the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix, upon his return to Formula One

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  Alonso at the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, with Aston Martin

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  Alonso at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, with Aston Martin

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  The Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R driven in the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona

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  Alonso driving a Toyota TS050 Hybrid at the 2018 6 Hours of Silverstone

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  Alonso driving at the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans

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  Alonso's car prior to the 2017 Indianapolis 500

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  Alonso at the 2019 Indianapolis 500

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  Alonso's Arai helmet used during the 2006 Formula One World Championship

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  The racing helmet Alonso wore at the 2013 Indian Grand Prix

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  Alonso at the 2015 Honda Racing Thanks Day

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  Alonso wearing a Kimoa hat at a NASCAR media tour in 2018

Formula One Records

As of the 2025 British Grand Prix^[update], Alonso holds the following Formula One records:

See also

In Spanish: Fernando Alonso para niños