#14 · Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso
Two-time World Champion (2005, 2006 — both at Renault), Le Mans 24 Hours winner, Indianapolis 500 podium. The longest-serving driver on the grid; still extracting more from a car than most younger drivers can.
32
Race wins
106
Podiums
22
Pole positions
2
Championships
Why he matters
Alonso is the most-experienced driver on the grid by a margin and one of the most technically complete drivers of his generation. His two championships in 2005 and 2006 ended Schumacher’s Ferrari dominance. His career since has included near-misses (2010, 2012, 2013 at Ferrari), a sabbatical, an Indy 500 attempt, two Le Mans wins with Toyota, and an unexpected return to F1 with Aston Martin.
How he drives
Alonso is famous for “extracting more than the car deserves” — a frequently-used cliché that, in his case, is accurate. His race-craft, tyre management, and engineer feedback remain elite. His qualifying pace has dropped slightly compared to his peak; his Sunday racing has not.
Watch for
- Wet weather, especially mixed conditions where call timing matters.
- His race-craft against rivals 20 years his junior — Alonso wheel-to-wheel is still a masterclass.
- His mentorship of Bortoleto, whom he manages, and his relationship with Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll.