IN PICS: Fernando Alonso reaches the big 250

The 2015 Russian Grand Prix will mark a new milestone in Fernando Alonso's long career as he prepares for his 250th event.

More than 14 years after the then-teenager made his F1 debut at the wheel of a Minardi in the 2001 Australian Grand Prix, Alonso will hit a quarter of a century in Sochi.

From humble beginnings with the minnow Minardi outfit, Alonso joined Renault as its test driver for 2002, before returning to the grid in 2003 as its race driver.

Claiming a maiden pole in 2003 in Malaysia, Alonso's first win came in the same season at the Hungaroring and ultimately planted the seeds that would lead to his charge towards the world title in 2005 and 2006, in doing so marking the end of Michael Schumacher and Ferrari's dominant era.

After a turbulent single season with McLaren in 2007 that led to an early conclusion to their original deal, Alonso returned to a Renault team on a downward swing in 2008 and 2009, picking up two wins but never proving fast enough for a title challenge.

Joining Ferrari in 2010, Alonso won on his debut with the Scuderia but fell short in his efforts to land the third title he and the tifosi so dearly craved in the five seasons he was there.

Leaving Ferrari at the end of the 2014 season, a rekindled relationship with McLaren for 2015 hasn't yielded more than the odd top ten finish as the team struggles to develop its Honda engine, but he insists he remains committed for 2016 and 2017.

Nonetheless, it is with the British outfit that he has hit the big 2-5-0 in Russia... albeit from the back of the grid.

In the meantime though, here we take you on a quick picture reel of Alonso's F1 career thus far, from his days as a fresh-faced rookie to double world champion to one of the sport's most respected figures.

Vital Statistics (before 2015 Russian GP)

Races: 249World Titles: 2Wins: 32Poles: 22Podiums: 97Fastest Laps: 21Points: 1778

First race: 2001 Australian GP (Minardi)First pole: 2003 Malaysian GP (Renault)First win: 2003 Hungarian GP (Renault)GPs Led: 84Laps Completed: 13605