Today, 29 July in 1981, Fernando Alonso Díaz was born.
He is a Spanish former Formula One racing driver.
Alonso is a two-time Formula One World Champion and is often regarded as one of the greatest Formula One drivers in the history of the sport.
He has contested 17 seasons of Formula One. Outside Formula One, Alonso has also won the 2018/ 19 FIA World Endurance Championship with Toyota Gazoo Racing.
In 2018, he won 24 Hours of Le Mans at his first attempt and won the race again in 2019.
He also contested the 2017 Indianapolis 500, and was due to contest in 2019 but failed to qualify.
Alonso started his racing career in go-karting at the age of three and won three consecutive karting championships in Spain between 1994 and 1997. In 1996, he was named the world karting champion.
Alonso made his Formula One debut in the 2001 season with Minardi, and then moved to the Renault team as a test driver the next year.
He joined McLaren in 2007, before returning to Renault for two seasons in 2008 and 2009.
Alonso has held various driving records in Formula One. He was formerly the youngest driver to qualify for pole position and to win a Grand Prix at the 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix.
He is also a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.
Other celebrities who were born on this day include actor, Jake Smollet, and actress, Allison Mack.
