Alonso joins McLaren legends to mark team's 1000th grand prix milestone

Fernando Alonso joined McLaren’s 1000th grand prix celebrations this week, reuniting with a roster of former drivers that included Mika Häkkinen, Lewis Hamilton, David Coulthard, Emerson Fittipaldi and Juan Pablo Montoya, alongside the team’s current line-up of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

The two-time world champion drove for McLaren in 2007 and again from 2015 to 2018, and spoke with evident affection about the Woking outfit despite now competing for Aston Martin. “It is an incredible organisation,” Alonso said. “1000 grands prix in Formula 1, but not only Formula 1 — with endurance racing, with IndyCar.”

Alonso credited McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown for the team’s recent resurgence and the broadening of its motorsport portfolio, which included fielding the Spaniard at the Indianapolis 500 as part of his bid for motorsport’s Triple Crown. “I think what Zak also brought to the team is amazing,” he said. “I had the chance to drive for them in IndyCar, and in Formula 1 two times. So, yeah, happy to be here, and wishing them the best for the future.”

The 44-year-old also recalled how McLaren first captured his imagination long before he ever pulled on the team’s race suit. “Obviously, I got inspired by Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in the ’90s with that McLaren red and white,” he said.

The milestone celebration comes at a difficult moment for Alonso personally. After five rounds of the 2026 season, he sits last in the drivers’ standings with zero points, with his Aston Martin AMR26 beset by ongoing performance issues. Team-mate Lance Stroll is 21st in the championship, also yet to score.