Twenty years have passed since a fiery 24-year-old Spaniard, Fernando Alonso, ascended to the pinnacle of Formula 1. On September 25, 2005, at Interlagos, he didn`t just win a championship; he shattered a formidable status quo, dethroning the seemingly invincible Michael Schumacher and ushering in a new era. That iconic high-pitched scream, a visceral outpouring of two decades of dreams and pressure, remains etched in the memory of motorsport enthusiasts more vividly than any trophy. It was the sound of a weight lifted, a destiny fulfilled, and a career landmark that, even today, continues to define one of the sport`s most compelling figures.
The Roar That Resonated Globally
Alonso`s maiden title wasn`t merely a personal triumph; it was a seismic event for Formula 1. Schumacher`s five consecutive drivers` titles and Ferrari`s six constructors` crowns had forged an era of unparalleled dominance. Alonso`s arrival in 2005, clinching the championship with two races remaining, marked a dramatic changing of the guard. His third-place finish at Interlagos was more than enough, igniting celebrations that stretched from São Paulo to his native Oviedo, Spain.
Yet, amidst the champagne and accolades, Alonso himself recalls the raw emotion of that scream most vividly. He reflected, “That was an incredible moment and emotion. From the inside, it was just like a relief. A weight out of the shoulders of so much pressure… maybe 20 years of my life concentrated in those 10 seconds of celebration.” This personal connection to the moment speaks volumes about the arduous journey that led him there.
A Pioneer Forged in Spain
Spain, traditionally a nation enthralled by two-wheeled racing, found an unlikely hero on four. Before Alonso, Spanish F1 drivers were largely footnotes in the sport`s history. His August 2003 victory in Hungary was the first Grand Prix win by a Spaniard in the championship`s modern era. He was a trailblazer, carving a path where none truly existed. His success wasn`t just a personal achievement; it was a national awakening.
The profound impact of Alonso`s rise is perhaps best encapsulated by fellow F1 driver Carlos Sainz, who now competes for Williams. Sainz credits Alonso as a “big culprit” for his own love of the sport, recalling how he would eagerly watch every session, inspired by his idol. Sainz noted, “That first world championship in Spain was huge, not only for me, but for so many other Spanish drivers.” The ripple effect saw karting championships swell from dozens to scores of participants, all dreaming of emulating Fernando.
Flavio Briatore, Alonso`s long-time manager and then-Renault team principal, had an almost prophetic belief in his talent. He famously gambled on Alonso, signing him to a lengthy contract and placing him at the backmarker Minardi team in 2001, where his raw potential still shone through. Briatore`s decision to promote Alonso to a race seat in 2003, even at the expense of a promising Jenson Button, sparked controversy in the British press. Briatore’s retort was simple and confident: “Be relaxed, time will tell if I`m right or wrong.” Time, as it turned out, overwhelmingly sided with Briatore.
The Art of the “Perfect Circle” Driver
The debate surrounding Alonso`s legacy is as enduring as his career. Despite “only” two world titles – a statistic that feels almost anachronistic for a talent of his magnitude – he is consistently hailed as one of the most “well-rounded” and complete drivers of the modern era. This perception isn`t mere fan sentiment; it`s a view shared by those who have worked closely with him.
Ayao Komatsu, current Haas team principal, who worked with both Button and Alonso as a tire engineer, offers a telling anecdote. He observed Alonso`s unparalleled ability to precisely manage tire wear, extracting maximum performance exactly when needed, right down to the last sector of a stint. Komatsu remarked, “He was just another level… totally another level. I thought, `Wow, this is a world champion.` So, that was a huge eye-opener for me.”
Andrea Stella, McLaren team principal and Alonso`s former race engineer at Ferrari, draws a fascinating comparison with Michael Schumacher. While Schumacher might have excelled in specific areas, creating a “star” profile of exceptional peaks, Alonso`s abilities are described as a “perfect circle” – consistently high across all aspects of driving. This holistic mastery underscores why his talent often transcends his statistical record.
Beyond F1: A Quest for Vindicated Talent
After years of battling uncompetitive machinery, particularly during his McLaren-Honda stint, Alonso embarked on a unique “side hustle”: the pursuit of motorsport`s elusive Triple Crown (Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans). This wasn`t merely a diversification of interests; it was, in many ways, a profound quest for vindication, a public demonstration of his ability to master any machine, anywhere.
He led 50 laps at the Indy 500 in 2017 before an engine failure halted his charge. He conquered Le Mans twice with Toyota in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, he tackled the notoriously brutal Dakar Rally, finishing a commendable 13th. These ventures, often arranged on relatively short notice, showcased his extraordinary adaptability and raw speed. When asked if these exploits helped confirm his talent during leaner F1 years, Alonso`s response, delivered with characteristic self-assurance, was laced with subtle irony:
“My self-confidence is extremely high, so I didn`t have that problem! Perhaps sometimes I have a little bit too much.”
Even four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen, who has his own ventures into endurance racing, expresses profound admiration. Verstappen stated, “I admire him a lot, how he is as a person, as a racer. At his age to still be that motivated to perform in Formula 1, but at the same time when he has done other things, going into endurance, doing Dakar, it`s pretty insane. It shows he`s just passionate about racing. It doesn`t matter if it`s a Formula 1 car or not.” Verstappen aptly summarized the paradox: Alonso`s pace hasn`t diminished, but the right machinery has too often eluded him.
The “Rottweiler” and the Road Ahead
The fire that fueled Alonso`s 2005 triumph still burns with undiminished intensity. Briatore famously described him as a “Rottweiler” – relentless, always pushing, always biting for victory. This insatiable desire to win brought him back to Formula 1 in 2021 with the hopeful “El Plan” tagline, and in 2023, to Lawrence Stroll`s ambitious Aston Martin project. With the recent high-profile arrival of design legend Adrian Newey and significant regulation changes looming for 2026, the dream of a third championship remains very much alive.
Alonso affirms regarding future victory prospects, “It feels very possible, for sure. We have the right people and we have the right facilities. All the tools are there, so it`s just up to us.” The caveat, as always in F1, is time – the time required to meld these elements into a championship-winning force.
A Legacy Beyond Statistics
It`s uncertain whether Alonso will add to his 22 pole positions, 32 race wins, or two world championships. Yet, his legacy, he believes, will extend beyond mere statistics. He mused, “I think people in the paddock will probably remember that I was an all-round driver, able to drive different cars with different competitiveness, always at the maximum. In different categories as well… try to be competitive in all of them. So that`s probably enough for me and this is a very good compliment already.”
He holds a philosophical, almost pragmatic, view of how quickly legends fade from public memory, suggesting even the greats like Lewis Hamilton will eventually be “off the radar” as newer generations emerge. This perspective hints at a peace within Alonso, even if a part of him still grapples with the disparity between his perceived talent and his championship tally.
On the question of luck, often cited as a factor in his “unfulfilled” potential, Alonso takes a balanced view:
“Good luck, bad luck… I think it`s been 50-50, to be honest. The thing is that when you do 400-plus races, there are a lot of races with good luck and a lot of races with bad luck. But I think everything compensated, and even when I went to Le Mans, the second Le Mans, we were two minutes behind the leader one hour before the end and then they had a puncture, then they had a wheel that was not properly done, then they had a double pit stop… then I won the second Le Mans. That was a lot of luck on our side. Everything compensated.”
Yet, he concludes with a statement that resonates deeply with fans who believe he deserved more:
“But [that it`s been] over 20 years [since my championship] and maybe more than 10 years since I won my last F1 grand prix… it doesn`t sound right to me.”
As Fernando Alonso continues his extraordinary odyssey, racing well into his mid-40s, his story is a testament to unyielding passion, raw talent, and an insatiable hunger for victory. Whether he adds another F1 title to his name or not, his impact on the sport, his pioneering spirit, and his reputation as a truly complete driver are already indelibly written into the annals of motorsport history. The roar of 2005 may be two decades old, but the legend of the Spanish Samurai is far from finished.
Dominic Ashworth