Fernando Alonso reached the highest category of motorsports in the 2001 season at the hands of the Minardi team and, after a year as a reserve driver for Renault in 2002, he took advantage of his first opportunity behind the wheel of a competitive car in 2003.
Next to the diamond mark, the Asturian driver achieved his first podium very quickly, in the second race of the campaign, a 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix that he came to lead but in which he finally crossed the checkered flag in third place, savoring champagne for the first time.
However, that period of time in which he led the race served him to beat and set a new record in Formula 1 last weekend at the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix, becoming the driver who has seen the most time pass from the first time he led a race to the last time he took first place on a Grand Prix Sunday.
At Suzuka, Alonso led the race for a lap when all his rivals ahead pitted to change wet tires for intermediates after the red flag, while he stayed on track because Alpine had called Esteban Ocon first. , ruling out a double pit stop, since the margin between the two was less than desired to make that decision.
From that 2003 Malaysian GP to the 2022 Japanese GP, nothing more and nothing less have passed 19 years, six months and 16 days , numbers that exceeded the record, which until now was in the possession of Michael Schumacher, the most laureate in history (along with Hamilton) of the category, aged 19 years, one month and nine days , from Belgium 1992 to Japan 2011.
Behind, in third position in this curious classification, is Kimi Raikkonen, although with much lower figures: 16 years and three months since his first race leading until his last appointment in which he was able to take the lead.
Of the active drivers , Lewis Hamilton is the closest to Fernando Alonso, although still very far with a mark of 15 years, five months and 17 days , so to overcome the Spanish, in case he does not get to lead a race again, he should stay in F1 for at least four more seasons.
TOP 8 drivers who have seen the most time pass between their leaders in an F1 race
| Pilot | Time elapsed | First and last race led |
| Fernando Alonso | 19 years, 6 months and 16 days | Malaysian GP 2003 – Japanese GP 2022 |
|
Michael Schumacher |
19 years, 1 month and 9 days | Belgian GP 1992 – Japanese GP 2011 |
| Kimi raikkonen | 16 years and 3 months | French GP 2002 – US GP 2018 |
| Lewis Hamilton | 15 years, 5 months and 17 days | Australian GP 2007 – Dutch GP 2022 |
| Rubens Barrichello | 15 years and 23 days | Portuguese GP 1994 – Brazilian GP 2009 |
| Ricardo Patrese | 14 years, 8 months and 4 days | South African GP 1978 – Australian GP 1992 |
| David Coulthard | 13 years, 9 months and 11 days | Belgian GP 1994 – Canadian GP 2009 |
| Sebastian Vettel | 13 years, 8 months and 7 days | Japanese GP 2007 – Azerbaijan GP 2021 |
Fernando Alonso and his trophy at the 2003 Malaysian GP
