Fernando Alonso’s Alonso F1 winless streak record is approaching a significant milestone as the two-time world champion has now gone 214 Grands Prix without securing a win since his last triumph at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix. Over the past 12 years, Alonso has remained competitive but has struggled to claim victory while driving for midfield teams such as McLaren, Alpine, and Aston Martin.

Examining Kevin Magnussen’s Career Without a Win

Kevin Magnussen, a Danish driver, accumulated 185 Grand Prix starts without scoring a win. Throughout most of his nine F1 seasons, Magnussen competed with teams that rarely challenged for victories, most notably spending seven years at Haas. His second season saw him with Renault, a period when the French manufacturer was still trying to regain momentum in the sport.

Magnussen never led a lap during his career and finished on the podium only once—in his very first race at the 2014 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne driving for McLaren. Although promoted to second place following a disqualification, he was 26.777 seconds behind the winner, Nico Rosberg. Despite that early promise, victories remained out of reach throughout his career.

Sergio Perez’s Long Wait for Number One

Sergio Perez endured a lengthy wait before tasting victory in Formula 1, with 189 Grand Prix starts preceding his breakthrough win. Spending most of his career at Force India and Racing Point, the Mexican driver eventually matched the number of wins by celebrated racers Jochen Rindt and Gilles Villeneuve after successes with Red Bull.

Perez’s first win was notable for its dramatic nature. After being spun out early in the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix by Charles Leclerc, Perez dropped to last place. However, with the aid of safety cars and advantageous tire strategies involving George Russell and Valtteri Bottas, he clawed back through the field to take the checkered flag.

Before his victory, Perez’s closest brush with winning came in the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix, where he notably challenged Fernando Alonso for the lead while driving for Sauber.

The Turbulent Career of Andrea de Cesaris

Andrea de Cesaris stands out with his 208 Grand Prix entries without a win, a record marked by frequent retirements—147 in total—many caused by collisions or crashes. Known as “De Crasheris” for his accident-prone style, de Cesaris raced for 10 different teams across 15 seasons.

He secured pole position at the 1982 United States Grand Prix West with Alfa Romeo but lost the lead to Niki Lauda before crashing out. In the 1983 Belgian Grand Prix, he briefly led the race after advancing from third on the grid, surpassing drivers like Alain Prost and Patrick Tambay, but mechanical issues forced him to retire.

Despite the setbacks, de Cesaris managed five podium finishes, coming closest to victory with two second-place results in 1983 at Kyalami and Hockenheim. His near-win at the 1982 Monaco Grand Prix ended when he ran out of fuel just as he was about to seize the lead in the closing laps, in a race featuring multiple lead changes.

Fernando Alonso’s Prolonged Search for Victory

Fernando Alonso has competed in 214 Grand Prix starts since his last win in 2013, making him one of the most prominent drivers on the list for longest post-victory winless streaks. Despite collecting 32 wins earlier in his career, Alonso has spent over a decade racing for midfield teams such as McLaren, Alpine, and Aston Martin, often challenging for podiums but rarely contending for first place.

His closest opportunity since 2013 came at the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix, where Alonso led late into the race, battling with Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton before losing out. During this period, Alonso has completed 9,850 laps in Formula 1, leading only six times, highlighting the difficulty of returning to winning form despite his experience and skill.

Nico Hulkenberg’s Enduring Winless Career

Nico Hulkenberg holds the record for the most consecutive race starts without a victory, having appeared in 241 Grands Prix without a win. Throughout his career, he remained with midfield teams such as Williams, Sauber, Force India, Renault, and Haas.

Hulkenberg achieved a remarkable feat at the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix by securing pole position as a rookie, but he was overtaken on the opening lap and ended the race in eighth place. He also led a few races, most notably at the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix where he took the lead from Jenson Button on a damp track and held it for 30 laps before an accident involving Lewis Hamilton dropped him back to fifth.

Despite flashes of strong performance, Hulkenberg’s quest for a first victory remained unfulfilled, underscoring the challenges faced by talented drivers in less competitive machinery.

Jarno Trulli’s Long Gap Between Wins

Jarno Trulli, with 135 races between victories, holds one of the longest intervals between two career wins in Formula 1. The Italian made a strong debut in 1997 and went on to race with several teams including Minardi, Prost, Jordan, and Renault.

His singular victory came at the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix, after which his performance and relationship with Renault team principal Flavio Briatore declined. Trulli spent his later years competing with mid-tier teams like Toyota and backmarker Lotus.

While not often a race winner, Trulli earned Toyota’s only pole position and collected seven podium finishes. Some of his closest calls included second place at the 2005 Bahrain Grand Prix, 13 seconds behind Alonso, and a third place at the 2009 Bahrain GP, just nine seconds off the winning pace.

Kimi Raikkonen’s Record for Most Races Between Wins

Kimi Raikkonen uniquely holds the record for the most Grand Prix starts (111) between two victories. His gap stretched from the 2013 Australian Grand Prix until the 2018 United States Grand Prix. Despite this, Raikkonen managed 30 podium finishes in that period, mostly with Ferrari, though wins remained elusive.

Several races provided close calls, including the 2013 German Grand Prix, where he finished just one second behind Sebastian Vettel, and the 2015 Bahrain GP, narrowly beaten by Lewis Hamilton by 3.4 seconds. In 2017, he led the Monaco Grand Prix for 33 laps from pole position but ultimately lost out to teammate Vettel during pit stops.

Raikkonen finally secured a win at the Circuit of the Americas in 2018 after multiple near misses. His record for the longest interval between wins remains vulnerable, as Fernando Alonso needs only a single victory to surpass it.

The Importance of These Winless Streaks in F1 History

These extended winless streaks demonstrate the challenges faced by drivers competing with teams outside the top tier in Formula 1. For Fernando Alonso, attempting to break the Alonso F1 winless streak record soon could redefine his legacy in the sport, showcasing resilience and longevity. As Alonso continues to race with Aston Martin, each event brings the possibility of ending this lengthy drought and surpassing records previously held by seasoned drivers like Kimi Raikkonen.

While the winless streaks of other drivers such as Kevin Magnussen, Sergio Perez, Andrea de Cesaris, and Nico Hulkenberg highlight the difficulties mid-field drivers endure, Alonso’s case stands out due to his past as a multiple World Champion and the high expectations that come with his experience.

Looking ahead, Alonso’s pursuit of victory will remain a focal point in Formula 1 narratives, especially as he competes alongside strong teammates and against fierce opponents. Whether he can secure that elusive win to break the record and return to the top step will be a defining storyline for the remainder of his career.