See how Alonso went from Minardi hopeful to double world champion in Rise of the Rookie

When Fernando Alonso returns to Formula 1 next season, he will do so as one of the most experienced and successful drivers on the grid, with over 300 race starts and more than 30 wins under his belt.

In his long F1 career he has driven for the biggest teams in the sport, including McLaren, Ferrari, and of course Renault, where he will have a third spell beginning next year.

But it all started for the Spaniard way back in 2001 when, as a 19-year-old, he made his F1 debut for the Minardi team. Then, after a year as test driver for Renault, he finally made the step up to a race seat with them in 2003, and was instantly on the pace, grabbing his first podium in just his third race for the team. Alonso had arrived as the coming force in the sport and his next targets were race wins and championships, which duly followed.

Hit play in the Aramco Presents: Rise of the Rookie video above to watch Alonso's journey from Minardi hopeful to double world champion, and all the highs and lows of his F1 career, which, as of next year, will have another chapter added to it...

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