This year marks Fernando Alonso’s 22nd season in Formula 1, meaning he’s officially been competing in the sport for half of his life. After turning 44 last week, he both qualified and finished fifth in Hungary, despite missing FP1 with a muscular injury in his back. Week in, week out, he shows no signs of slowing down, despite being the oldest driver in Formula 1 since Graham Hill in 1975.
The two-time World Champion is also pretty familiar with breaking records, including being the driver with the most-ever starts in F1 – a fact made even more impressive considering his two-year hiatus from the sport from 2019-2020.
But Alonso also has a story to tell through the way his personal aesthetic has changed. From a fresh-faced rookie to the racing veteran today, here’s how the Spaniard’s style has evolved while mirroring the chapters of his storied F1 career so far…
A fresh-faced prodigy
Before the podiums, the titles, and the signature looks we know him for now, Alonso first entered Formula 1 as a fresh talent that wanted to prove himself at the pinnacle of the sport. In a Minardi test in 2000, and later as a Renault test driver from 2002, his look was understated.
A combination of short hair, a youthful smile, and with race suits that seemed just a little too big, it was clear that at this point, he didn’t yet have a defined personal aesthetic. He appeared exactly as he was: a rookie on the rise, entirely focused on racing.
The style would come later, as for now, it was all about fulfilling potential.
The rise of El Nano
In the midst of winning two successive World Championship titles in 2005 and 2006 with Renault, Alonso debuted one of his most iconic looks. With tousled hair, mirrored wraparound sunglasses, a bohemian necklace, and relaxed Renault blue-and-yellow racewear (often sported with a matching bandana), Alonso perfectly captured the spirit of Y2K.
He wasn’t trying to be a style icon – but that was the point. “I’m just a normal guy,” he insisted, upon his rapid rise to stardom, and his looks certainly reflected that: confident and bold… yet casual.
On-track, he was fierce and tactical, but off-track he carried the effortless charisma of someone who didn’t feel the need to please anyone. A new generation of fans found their hero (and style inspiration) in El Nano.
Clean cut at McLaren
Alonso’s 2007 move to McLaren accompanied a slightly sharper and more polished aesthetic. Often clean-shaven, shorter hair, and the white and coral red race suits gave him a sleeker look, a stark contrast to the flair of his Renault days. Perhaps it was due to his short tenure at the team that year, but the aesthetic felt more like a uniform than an extension of personality.
Let’s be clear, the look was still sharp and timely, but perhaps not as distinct as some of his others. Upon his return to Renault in 2008, he reverted back to his more relaxed and unique style, perhaps a reflection of his sense of belonging within his previous team.
Romantic racer at Ferrari
As it does with many of its drivers, Ferrari certainly progressively influenced something of a cinematic quality in Alonso. The decisive switch to larger sunglasses and splashes of Rosso Corsa – became part of a signature look that was unequivocally Ferrari.
Despite some seasons defined by near-misses – including missing out on the World Championship title by just three points in 2012 – his off-track looks were spot on.
A driver defined
Though he was going through a period of frustrations on-track, Alonso’s style during his return to McLaren was, by his own admission, truly authentic. “My personal style is pretty casual,” he said in 2017 in an interview with Esquire Middle East. “When I’m not in my racing overalls or McLaren Honda team kit, then you’ll normally find me in jeans, a t-shirt and trainers.”
Throughout those years, the beard stayed, the caps were ever-present, and the vibe was grounded. “As I’ve grown older, I’ve become much more comfortable in wearing what I feel most comfortable in,” he added. This era was aesthetically low-key, self-assured, and comfortable.
Alonso. Fernando Alonso.
Alonso’s paddock style today is the epitome of refined. Now with Aston Martin, his image has sharpened into lean, composed, and unmistakably sleek. From the clean-cut shirts, to his neat facial hair and even the structured teamwear, Alonso knows how to evoke a quiet authority. After all, he’s giving part racing veteran (or rookie), part modern-day secret agent (00-Nando, we see you).
There’s a precise quality to his looks now: minimalistic and seldom without his sunnies. At this point, his style isn’t about reinvention, it’s about precision, but now with the timeless cool aura of someone who’s been here before (and knows exactly how to own his look).
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