Fernando Alonso

## Career Overview

### **Minardi (2001)**

Fernando Alonso made his F1 debut in 2001, with Minardi, in which he would finish the season with zero points.

### **Mclaren (2007)**

Alonso moved to McLaren for 2007, however relations quickly broke down with team mate Lewis Hamilton. Constant in-fighting between both drivers cost both a chance at claiming the 2007 Driver's Championship.

### **Renault (2003 - 2006, 2008 - 2009)**

Moving to Renault in 2003, Alonso would go on to with two WDC with the team in 2005 and 2006. A torrid 2007 season at McLaren saw Alonso return to Renault for 2008 and 2009.

### **Ferrari (2010 - 2014)**

Ferrari signed Alondo in 2010, and he came close to taking titles in 2010 and 2012.

### **Return to McLaren (2015)**

After a dismal 2014 season, Alonso would return to McLaren for 2015. However, the MP4-30 proved to be woefully uncompetitive, with Alonso only managing a best of 3rd at Monaco.

### **Mercedes (2016 - 2018)**

Alonso would sign with Mercedes for 2016, to replace the retiring Nico Rosberg, and was able to fight towards the front on a regular basis. Alonso would set the fastest lap time in Pre-Season testing, however the Spaniard would retire from two of the opening four races with mechanical failures. clawing back points throughout the season, a crash with Kubica at USA dropped Alonso out of title contention.

2018 would prove to be much more fruitful for the Spaniard, as Alonso would build a sizeable lead in the Driver's Championship after the opening third of the Championship. Come the end of the British Grand Prix, Alonso had such the points advantage, he was almost two race wins worth of points in the lead. Come the end of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Alonso had an outstanding lead of 45 points over nearest rival Sebastian Vettel.

Results for Alonso tailed off after the summer break, with other teams closing the gap to Mercedes, it was Alonso's consistent results that kept him at the top of the Driver's standings. Alonso could could have clinched his third title at the Mexican grand Prix. Despite beating Tirowee to the line, albeit after contact between the two, Alonso was only 19 points in front of the Brit.

For the final race, Alonso started 6th after a careful lap in qualifying. after letting team mate Wehrlein pass early on, Alonso would have a controlled drive to finish 7th. With race pole sitter Hamilton leading from lights to flag he was guaranteed his 3rd Driver's championship. Rival Tirowee finished the race in 4th to finish 15 points behind Alonso.

### **Return to F1 with Renault (2021)**

Renault came into 2021 with a whole new driver lineup. Frustration in the team grew with Hulkenberg and Vergne at not securing a race victory, and losing out to Alfa Romeo for second overall due to lack of consistency from both drivers. Renault made the name signing of the decade, and sign three-time World Champion Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard not quite ready to hang up his helmet yet. The now 39 year old looks to have come back to a competitive Renault outfit and will look to emulate Prost, Fangio, Schumacher and Vettel by claiming a fourth world title.

Renault F1 CEO and team Principul, Cyril Abiteboul, later revealed that he 'had been in initial talks with Vettel about partnering Ocon, but those talks came to an end once Alonso became available.

Alonso's return to form was instant. The three-time Champion put his RS37 on pole for the season opening Canadian Grand Prix. A controlled drive lead the Spaniard to win on his third debut for the Enstone based team. Alonso would struggle in Round two. The Spaniard was knocked out in Q2 at COTA, and would only recover to 9th in the race. Team mate Esteban Ocon finished 2nd. Alonso returned to dominant ways at the Mexican Grand Prix, starting from pole, leading every lap and taking a controlled win. Team mate Ocon finished a strong 3rd, to give Renault the lead in the Constructor's Standings.

Alonso lucked into a win at the Dutch Grand Prix. The Alfa Romeo of Kevin Magnussen was the class of the field, but retired mid race with a Ferrari engine failure. Unchallenged from the cars behind, the Spaniard controlled the rest of the race.

Alonso took Renault's 40th victory in F1 at the British Grand Prix. Trailing the Alfa Romeo of Josh Tirowee in the first half of the race, the Spaniard managed to get the jump on the defending Champion at the Safety Car restart. From there, Alonso was able to control the pace and hold off a last lap assault from the Brit to take the victory.

The shortened season brought Alonso title glory. The Spaniard claimed his 4th Driver's Championship, beating Josh Tirowee by 8 points. Renault claim their first Championship since 2006.

### **Alpine (2022)**

Alpine keep the same driver lineup for 2022 that Renault had last season. Fernando Alonso still looks to defend his Driver's title, and match Sebastian Vettel with a fifth. Esteban Ocon will again look to back up the Spaniard and help guide Alpine Renault to Constructor's success.

Alonso's season started strongly. Securing pole position, controlling the pace in the race, and taking victory.

Alpine were again strong in Round 2 at Japan. However, Alonso had to contend with the unexpected challenge of Williams. Alex Albon was set for victory after dominating the first half of the race, but suffered Power Unit failure. Alonso inherited the lead, and went unchallenged.

Round 7, Italy, Alonso has one of his best performances. The track was green following a washed-out FP3. Alonso made the best of the conditions to secure pole in the dying seconds of Qualifying. Alonso held the lead at the start from a charging Albon. Lap 12, Verstappen and Alonso headed to the pits for Hard tyres. Zhou Guanyu stayed out for another lap looking for an overcut. The Chinese driver's AR/22 appeared well suited to the Hards, as he powered into the lead on lap 17. His time at the front was short lived, as Alonso retook the lead on lap 19. Verstappen held the lead going onto the final lap, only for Alonso to power past and hold on to take the victory.

Alonso made a critical error on lap 2 of the Spanish Grand Prix. On lap 2, the four-time Champion ran wide through turn 2 into the gravel and dropped to last place. The Spaniard recovered to 9th, but dropped crucial points, and the Championship lead to Verstappen.

Over the United States Grand Prix weekend, Alpine confirmed there would be no further upgrades to the A522, and it's up to Alonso and the team to maximize the package they have. That's exactly what Alonso did. In a wet qualifying, Alonso lined up 3rd, with the Red Bulls on the back row. Alonso maintained position as Tirowee got a bad start from pole. Tirowee repassed the Spaniard at the end of the first lap. Ferrari stuck to their one-stop plan for Leclerc. The race leader pit onto lap 13 for a set of Hards. The Monegasque rejoined the circuit right infront of the battling Norris and Stroll. Norris dove into turn 1 to take avoiding action, but Leclerc made contact with the MCL36, and had to pit next lap for a new front wing. Hamilton was unable to take advantage. He was stuck behind the other W13 of Russell. The Brit span at turn 1 by himself, and dropped right back. This brought the race to Alonso and Tirowee. Alonso pitted at the end of lap 16, and rejoined behind Tirowee, but on fresher Mediums than Tirowee's Hards.

Tirowee pitted for another set of Mediums under the Safety Car, surrendering the lead to Alonso. Tirowee made a decisive move into the final corner on lap 23 to take the lead from Alonso. Alonso put on one final assault on the final lap, and reclaimed the lead from Tirowee down the back straight. He was lucky to finish the race, after Tirowee outbreaked himself en route to second. Max Verstappen finished 13th, after failing to recover from a lap one crash and nose change. Victory for Alonso opened up a 16 point lead with four races remaining. Alpine reclaimed top spot in the Constructor's by 14 points.

The Portuguese Grand Prix was not good for Alonso or Alpine. The team locked out only the third row, Ocon ahead of Alonso. Rain was expected throughout the race. Alpine started both cars on Mediums, whilst Red Bull expected a shower was imminent and both Perez and Verstappen started on Softs. Both Red Bulls launched ahead of the Alfa Romeos, which were also on harder compounds, on lap 1. Alonso passed Tirowee for 4th on lap 7, just as the heavens opened. Perez, along with most of the field, pit at the end of lap 8. The Alfa Romeos double stacked. Verstappen chose to do another lap on Softs, and would fall behind Zhou and Alonso. The rain was slowly becoming heavier, on lap 23 Zhou and Alonso headed to the pits for full wets. Red Bull left Verstappen out to gain track position over the Alpine. Alfa Romeo brought in Tirowee from 3rd on the next lap for wets. Ocon pit for a new set of Inters and was posting times as quick as those on Wets. By lap 27, the rain was slowly worsening, but it was too late for Perez, Verstappen, Leclerc and Norris to pit without losing track position. Tirowee caught and passed Tirowee on lap 29, as it was now full wet conditions. The top 3 kept it on track for the final laps. Alonso finished 7th, with Ocon out of the points. Verstappen finished 2nd, and went into the final race with a 2 point lead.

Alpine's championship bids fell apart at Brazil. Alonso could only manage 5th in Q3, with Ocon 9th. Verstappen took pole, and went into the race with a 5 point advantage over the Spaniard. Alonso gained one place on the opening lap, but Ocon broke off his front wing through turn 3 and had to pit. Alonso's bid for a fifth championship was all but over by lap 30, as the Spaniard had fallen back behind Russell, as well as Perez and Zhou. The outgoing champion finished a defeated 8th. Ocon was almost lapped on his way to 18th. Alpine slipped to 3rd in a two-horse race, due to Alfa Romeo's late season consistency.

### **Aston Martin (Present)**

As announced at the Austrian Grand Prix last season, four-time Champion Fernando Alonso becomes the team's new lead driver. The Spaniard's negotiations with Alpine broke down, the French outfit siting his age as the main con to more than a one year deal. Aston Martin offered Alonso a two year contract, with an option for a third on Alonso's side.

Las Vegas hosted the first of three Wildcard races, allocating 5 points for pole, and all 20 positions in the race. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll completed the top 10 in FP1. Alonso topped FP3 ahead of Albon and 2008 Champion Lewis Hamilton. Alonso could only manage 7th in Q3, but it's still a large leap forward from where Aston Martin ended 2022.

The Red Bull of Josh Tirowee started to drop back on the Las Vegas strop from lap 3, as his RB19 was suffering from ERS deployment problems. Both Ferraris, Schumacher, Vergne and Alonso demoted the Brit down the order. Pierre Gasly span on lap 13, blocking the track after the strip, and brought out the first Safety Car of the season. Verstappen lead from Hamilton, Alonso, Russell and Leclerc. The Mercedes and Aston Martin debated second place, whilst Verstappen controlled the pace at the front. The squabbling from the three Mercedes powered cars allowed Tirowee to get back in the action. Red Bull were able to resolve the ERS issue under the Safety Car. Alonso squeezed out Russell on the run down the final straight, and Tirowee made his presence known passing both of them onto lap 23. Alonso finished his first race with Aston Martin in 5th.

Alonso once dialed into the Aston Martin to top FP3 in Australia from Tirowee and Zhou. Alonso again couldn't replicate his pace from FP3, and lined up 7th. Alonso rocketed up to 2nd by turn 1. Stroll in the other Aston Martin was struggling on lap 6, and lost a place to Sette Camara who was running longer on Mediums. Sector 2 played to the strength of the Williams, allowing Albon to get in the mix. Josh Tirowee pitted at the end of lap 10 for Hards. He rejoined behind the Toyota-Albon-Stroll battle, but quickly made a move on the Canadian. Alonso was also on a push, and found a way past his 2018 Championship rival to move into 2nd. Tirowee's strength over the weekend had been low fuel runs. By lap 23/29, his RB19 was rapid once again, and he reclaimed 2nd from Alonso. Alonso backed off in the final laps, to ensure Aston Martin's first podium finish in F1.

Alonso secured Aston Martin's first F1 victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Aston Martin brought a significant aero package with a new front and rear wing and new floor. Alonso topping FP1 was becoming a familiar sight. he pace for Alonso carried on through FP2, topping again from Hamilton. Alonso lined up third for the race in the upgraded AMR23. Alonso completed a pass on Vetstappen for the lead on to lap 6. The top four headed into the pits at the end of lap 12. A routine quick stop from Red Bull got Verstappen back into 2nd. Tirowee played the team game for Red Bull and boxed for a fastest lap attempt to try and take the point from Alonso. Verstappen kept Alonso honest, but the Spaniard took victory for a sixth different team!

Alonso was full of confidence prior to Emilia Romagna FP1, even entertaining the chances of a 2023 title bid. Previous race winner Alonso could only manage 12th in Q2. Alonso was the only driver to start on Hards and after leading a lap boxed for Mediums on lap 17. The four-time champion breezed past a Williams again on lap 18, this time Dan Ticktum. Alonso stormed through the midfield again and by lap 27 was up to 4th. One lap later, the Spaniard moved past Tirowee into the podium places. Alonso's mediums were finished by lap 32 and Tirowee made the move Verstappen couldn't to climb back onto the podium.

Aston Martin qualified 3rd and 4th for the the Spanish Grand Prix, but both were disqualified for fuel irregularities. Alonso fought like a lion to climb from 19th to 6th in his home race.

A possible race win was on the cards at the Singapore Grand Prix. Alonso qualified third for the second race in a row and this time would start from that position. The final Wildcard race of the season started dry, but rain was projected later on. A traditional lightning start from Alonso saw the Spaniard in the lead by turn 2. Alonso was pulling clear on lap 5, until a loss of hydraulic pressure in the AMG Power Unit forced the four-time Champion to retire from the race just as the rain began to fall. The Spaniard would still secure the point for fastest lap.

## Racing Record (Formula One Results Only)

Results on **bold**, indicate Championships won.