Fernando Alonso has lived more Formula 1 lives than any driver in history. Double world champion. Giant-killer. Villain. Nearly man. Endurance legend. Comeback king. Admired by every rival, feared by every team-mate and endlessly misunderstood, he remains one of the sport's most compelling and complex figures.

In Alonso, BBC Formula 1 correspondent Andrew Benson draws on more than three decades covering the sport, and unrivalled access to Alonso and those closest to him, to tell the definitive story of a remarkable career. Through exclusive interviews with world champions, team principals, engineers and lifelong confidants, Benson reveals the man behind the myth: the extraordinary talent, relentless competitiveness and uncompromising personality that shaped every triumph, controversy and career-defining decision.

From ending Michael Schumacher's reign and the explosive McLaren-Hamilton rivalry to Ferrari's heartbreaking title defeats, Le Mans glory, Indy ambition and an astonishing renaissance in his forties, Alonso is packed with previously untold stories, fresh insight and unforgettable moments.

This is the inside story of one of Formula 1's greatest competitors and one of the finest racing drivers the sport has ever known.