Fernando Alonso is the last active link to Formula One's V10 engine era and, heading into his 23rd season in 2026, remains the oldest driver on the current grid by a considerable margin — a career longevity almost without precedent in the sport.

Back-to-Back Titles With Renault

Alonso made his Formula One debut with Minardi in 2001 before securing back-to-back world championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006, becoming, at the time, the youngest world champion in the sport's history. Those two titles remain the cornerstone of a career that has otherwise been defined as much by near misses as by outright success.

Ferrari Years and Late-Career Frustration

A subsequent move to Ferrari brought Alonso close to further championships on multiple occasions without ever quite completing the job, a pattern that has followed him through stints with McLaren and other teams since. Across his career, his win tally has grown to 32 grands prix, placing him among the sport's most successful active drivers by that measure alone.

A Return After Time Away

Alonso stepped away from Formula One for the 2019 and 2020 seasons before returning with Alpine in 2021, and he has driven for Aston Martin since 2023. His debut season with the team brought eight podium finishes and a rejuvenated reputation as one of the grid's sharpest wheel-to-wheel racers, even in his early 40s.

A Podium Drought

Since that promising first season at Aston Martin, Alonso has not returned to the podium, a stretch that has coincided with the team's broader struggles to build a consistently competitive car. The 2026 regulation reset offered hope of a reset in fortunes, though the team's form through the opening rounds has again proven difficult.

Still Racing at the Top

At 44 years old, Alonso remains contracted to Aston Martin and shows little sign of slowing down, continuing to be regarded by many of his fellow drivers as one of the most complete racers of his generation, even as his results have become more dependent on the competitiveness of his machinery than in his championship-winning years.

Career snapshotTwo world championships (2005, 2006), 32 career race wins, and F1's oldest and most experienced active driver, entering his 23rd season in 2026. Career statistics reflect the 2026 season as of the British Grand Prix (July 5, 2026). Race-by-race totals will have moved on since — check Formula1.com for the latest figures.