Thursday, February 27, 2025
HomeMotorsportsFernando Alonso and Co.: The longest Formula 1 careers

Fernando Alonso and Co.: The longest Formula 1 careers

It has been almost 24 years between Fernando Alonso’s first and last Formula 1 start – These drivers had the longest careers in the premier class

If Fernando Alonso fulfills his current contract with Aston Martin, the Spaniard will break a sound barrier in 2026. There will then be more than 25 years between his first and last race in Formula 1, in other words, more than a quarter of a century.

In this respect, the Spaniard already holds the record in the premier class. A full 23 years, 9 months and 4 days lie between his first Formula 1 race in Australia in 2001 and his last to date at the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Apart from Alonso, there is only one other driver, Lewis Hamilton, who will still be competing in the premier class in 2025.

Sebastian Vettel, on the other hand, is not on our list. The German is “only” in eleventh place in this ranking, just missing out on the top 10. He took 15 years, 5 months and 3 days between his debut in Indianapolis in 2007 and his farewell in Abu Dhabi in 2022.

The next driver expected to make it into the top 10 is also German. Nico Hülkenberg is currently at 14 years, 8 months and 24 days between his Formula 1 debut in Bahrain in 2010 and the season finale in Abu Dhabi in 2024.

But since he will continue racing in Formula 1 until at least 2026, he will overtake Felipe Massa, who is currently ranked tenth with 15 years, 8 months and 23 days, provided he fulfills his current contract with Sauber and Audi respectively.

What is important to note here is that you don’t have to have driven non-stop in the premier class to make it onto our list. Because, for example, Hülkenberg has already been without a regular cockpit for several seasons since his debut, and Alonso also took a Formula 1 break of several years.

For example, there are 460 Grands Prix between Alonso’s first and last race, but he only started 401 of them. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the two-time world champion is also the record starter in the premier class in this respect.

Incidentally, there are five other world champions on our list in addition to Alonso. And only one driver in our top 10 has never managed to win a Grand Prix during his Formula 1 career.

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