Alonso’s remarkable F1 career spans generations, earning fans young and old with his continued success and enduring legacy.
He’s the most experienced driver in F1: so much so that Fernando Alonso can boast about having raced both Verstappens – father and son.
“Yes, absolutely. I raced against Jos Verstappen in my first two seasons in Formula 1, and now I’m racing against Max!” he says with a smile.
Once a young prodigy, the Aston Martin F1 driver has become the seasoned veteran… Yet Alonso’s fanbase has rejuvenated over the past year, following a string of podium finishes early in the season.
“I think the younger generation used to see me as a bit of an old-timer, because I’m sure their parents would talk about my world championships, my victories with Renault, McLaren, and Ferrari, all that. And when you’re 12 or 13, it’s like, ‘OK, OK, I don’t want to hear about those things, the present is different, other drivers are winning now. You’re living in the past.'”
“The strong season we had last year, with all the podiums alongside Aston Martin Aramco, felt like we activated a new generation of fans. We engaged a younger audience – new fans and those who came to the sport through Netflix’s Drive to Survive.”
“Last year was a real eye-opener for this younger generation. Suddenly, it was like, ‘Wow, you know, this guy Fernando Alonso is still here, still competitive, and I want to support him. Maybe what my parents said about him was true.'”
“And now, I see a real mix of generations – with 20 years between them – supporting me and getting into Formula 1. I see them at airports, on the streets, at the circuits, and at my museum. It’s incredibly rare, in any sport, to find an athlete who connects with two very different generations of fans.”
“There are people who followed me in the 2000s, who watched me win those world titles, and now their children – their sons, their daughters – are watching Formula 1 and supporting me too. They’re watching the races alongside their parents. It’s incredible to think that I’m that link, that connection, between them in their shared passion for the sport.”
“It’s a wonderful story, being able to come full circle.”
A museum, a karting track in Asturias…
A motorsport and F1 enthusiast through and through, Fernando Alonso has also built a museum and a karting track in Asturias. It’s his way of nurturing the sport in Spain, which he believes is much needed.
“I remember when I was young, to race in karting – to pursue my passion and dream – I had to travel to other regions of Spain because there were no facilities in Asturias. And then, when I reached a certain level, I had to go to Italy because we didn’t have a major karting championship in Spain. Things are very different today.”
“Motorsport has given me so much in life that now it’s incredibly rewarding to see children using and enjoying the karting track I built in Asturias – to watch them discover motorsport – and to see people visit the Fernando Alonso Museum, moved by the cars, the helmets, the memorabilia of my career.”
“Motorsport has given me so much, and I’m happy to give something back to the fans and future generations. I hope they fall in love with the sport as much as I did.”
“You know, until I had the museum and the track, I’d never thought about it that way.”
“The initial reason I built the museum was because Renault gave me my championship-winning car after the 2005 season. Suddenly, so many people – friends, family – all wanted to visit my garage and take photos with the car, and I thought, ‘OK, I’ll have to put this somewhere else because I can’t host everyone at my house!’ That’s how the museum began, and now it’s a big success.”
“80% of visitors come from abroad. They travel to see the museum, and it’s now the second most popular tourist destination in the Asturias region. The karting track is also a key part of this. So many kids are discovering motorsport and karting through these facilities. It’s incredibly rewarding.”
As for his karting school, Alonso explains that its main aim is to give young people their first opportunity to explore the sport, while also guiding those who show potential.
“The ambition of my karting school is to give people the chance to take their first steps in motorsport, to discover karting, and to have fun.”
“Having fun is the most important thing. It starts as a hobby. Instead of taking their kids to the swimming pool, football field, or tennis courts at the weekend, parents can come to the karting track and enjoy themselves.”
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From Prodigy to Legend: Alonso’s Timeless F1 Journey From Prodigy to Legend: Alonso’s Timeless F1 Journey. f1 2024 From Prodigy to Legend: Alonso’s Timeless F1 Journey
