Discovering the 'real' Fernando Alonso

It's not often - in fact, ever - that I feel compelled to credit my mother for the inspiration behind an AUTOSPORT feature, but in this case I must, for it was in conversation with her last Christmas that I set out on a path that I hope leads us all to deeper understanding of one of Formula 1's biggest stars.

"We see and read so much about these F1 drivers, but what are they actually like?" my mother asked me. "What kind of people are they?" She mentioned Fernando Alonso as someone she would particularly like to know more about.

It struck me that she had a valid point.

Alonso is a perfect example of the Formula 1 enigma. He has been a major player in F1 for over a decade, conquering the world twice over and undoubtedly establishing himself as one of the standout racing drivers of his generation.

But his time in F1 has also been clouded by controversies, and rarely has it seemed his stints with the various teams he's raced for over the years have ended on favourable terms.

From the outside looking in, Alonso has earned a reputation as a fearsome driver, but one that comes with a warning: 'Handle with care'. For all the countless times he's produced superb performances on the track, off it he is variously accused of being a ruthless, political and selfish operator.

The Sainz family know Alonso better than most in F1 © XPB

The fact he has been so successful creates inordinate levels of interest in what he does regardless, but he also appears to be a private person, who does not openly seek the limelight that inevitably follows a major worldwide sporting contest wherever it goes.

That makes Alonso mysterious - and interesting - because it is difficult to know who he really is, or what he really thinks.

When I discussed this with my editor we set out on a mission to dig beneath the lazy stereotypes and caricatures, and see if we might provide our readers with a greater insight into what makes one of the best racing drivers in the world tick.

To do this AUTOSPORT spoke to a range of people who have worked with Alonso during his F1 career, plus the man himself.

The first port of call was Williams technical chief Pat Symonds, who knows Alonso from the early years at Renault, through to his becoming double world champion in 2005 and '06, then returning to the team in 2008-09 after one difficult season with McLaren.

We also spoke to Felipe Massa, who was team-mate to Alonso (for four straight seasons at Ferrari) longer than any other driver in F1; the Sainz family - Carlos Sr and Jr - who know Alonso both inside and outside the F1 paddock; and members of Alonso's current McLaren-Honda team - racing director Eric Boullier (who helped convince Alonso to return to Woking) and Andrea Stella, now on the engineering strength at McLaren having been race engineer to Alonso throughout the Spaniard's time at Maranello.

At each stage I was struck by how engaged these people were with the subject. Symonds and Massa in particular had no quid-pro-quo interest in granting their time, yet were prepared to talk openly.

Andrea Stella would follow Alonso from Ferrari to McLaren © LAT

Conversations with the Sainzes were also very interesting, revealing some of the personal aspects of Alonso that are not so well known, or seen so regularly in the cutthroat world of the F1 paddock.

Stella rarely grants interviews to the British media, yet we talked for around 45 minutes uninterrupted. Such deep input from a man who has worked closer than most with Alonso for the past five seasons was truly invaluable.

As I headed to the McLaren motorhome for an interview with Alonso himself, a picture of a complex personality was building in my mind, and I was fascinated to see what he would have to say for himself.

It's never particularly easy for anyone to talk about themselves inwardly in detail - with their own friends, let alone strangers. It takes a particular kind of narcissism to enjoy that sort of chat.

Some of Alonso's early answers were unsurprising and a little wary, but as our talk progressed he became increasingly engaged and interesting, and in fairness he did not shy away from the topic, or duck any questions.

What he said backed up the impression Sainz Jr left me with - that there are two distinct Fernando Alonsos, the person he wants to be when he's not being a Formula 1 driver and the person he feels he needs to be in order to succeed in his chosen profession.

He clearly feels the need to behave a certain way in order to get the best results possible. In this way he is like any talented, career-minded individual.

Alonso's first major F1 successes (and only titles) came with Renault © LAT

This has clearly led to some difficult situations along the way, and hasn't endeared him to some. Alonso, it seems, will never be one of those universally loved characters within the paddock.

But I got the distinct impression he doesn't care about any of that. To him, being in F1 is all about winning, and doing everything in his power to make that happen.

But I also got the feeling that Formula 1 does not always sit easily with Alonso. Apart from the match with his abilities and incessant desire to be successful - and of course the thrill of racing and the financial rewards it brings - it seems Alonso does not have an unwavering passion for the sport that blinds him to its flaws.

He realises the F1 life is material, and fleeting. What truly matters to Alonso, it seems, is what else being successful in this world allows him to do, and the happiness it helps him achieve - now and in the future.

All in all I came away with the impression that Alonso is actually a fairly normal, down-to-earth person. One with extraordinary ability in his chosen field, but nevertheless not so different from anyone else - simply trying to make his own way as best he can, and live a happy life.

AUTOSPORT will publish a special 12-page report in the magazine this week, attempting to shine some light on 'the real Fernando Alonso'. It is not an attempt at biography; it is not intended to (and never could) be so comprehensive and definitive.

What we've tried to do is give some genuine insight into the character of the man, to help people understand him a little better than they already do, or think they do.

Hopefully, we have achieved our goal.