Fernando Alonso highlights 'biggest legacy' in F1 career reflection

Fernando Alonso has highlighted what he believes is his biggest “legacy” to F1 following a quarter of a century in the sport.

Having made his debut in 2001, Alonso has gone on to start a record-setting 439 grands prix - with the latest being a new event in his home country of Spain.

A fresh track was built in Madrid, with the event signing a 10-year deal with F1 to take over as host of the Spanish Grand Prix.

Throughout his career, Alonso has picked up two championships and 32 grand prix wins, but the 45-year-old insisted he feels more pride over the impact he has had in his home country.

“I feel honoured,” Alonso told media including RacingNews365. 

“My debut in 2001, my family was watching my races on RTL, the German channel, because it was not broadcast in Spain.

“So that tells you how small F1 was 20 years ago and how much things have changed, and the passion for many drivers in Spain to become part of F1. 

“And not only behind the wheel. I think there are maybe five, seven, 10% of the mechanics, engineers in F1 are now Spanish. So that’s probably another thing that we changed in Spain, the wish to be part of F1 in different roles. 

“That’s the biggest, one of the most proud things that I feel.”

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Alonso 'more proud' of Spanish impact than F1 career

Alonso's highs of title-winning campaigns came early in his career, with his last championship campaign being 20 years ago, while he has not won a grand prix in 13 years.

While he feels “lucky” to have experienced such success, Alonso gave special attention to his impact outside his personal results.

“Winning races or winning championships if you have the car and you are in the right place, right moment, the 20 drivers here, they can have that opportunity,” he said. 

“I was very lucky to experience that. 

“But I think the biggest legacy for me and my career is the change in Spain, for F1 and everything from karting, single-seaters, different Spanish teams racing in single-seaters, even to an extent in rally and other categories, my museum in Spain and all the visits that we have there. 

“I don’t know, there are many things outside the car that maybe make me more proud of my career than the results itself.”