Fernando Alonso got a knock on his door at 6am this morning, with the McLaren driver opening to a smiling representative of the World Doping Agency.

Doping officers are allowed to turn up without notice at an athlete's house or hotel, with rules obliged to inform the agency of their exact whereabouts, where they happen to be in the world.

Alonso, who testing at Aragon this week with the Toyota LMP1 WEC team, gladly fulfilled his duties and even posted a picture of the impromptu visitor on Instagram.

The two-time world champion is the second F1 driver to be monitored by the doping agency this week, with Romain Grosjean also getting a 6am knock on his door on Monday.

Fortunately, F1 enjoys a clean record when it comes to doping, and while controls have been scarce in the past few years, they have become more frequent recently, with Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo revealing that he had been tested in December, on Christmas day!

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Wolff overwhelmed by China podium: ‘One of the best I’ve ever had'

For Kimi Antonelli, victory at the Chinese Grand Prix was the moment a dream became…

2 hours ago

Verstappen tears into F1 after Shanghai DNF: ‘For me, it’s a joke’

The frustration boiling inside Max Verstappen finally spilled over in Shanghai, where another bruising weekend…

3 hours ago

Chinese GP: Sunday's action in pictures

The 2026 Chinese GP will go down in history for Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli who…

4 hours ago

Hamilton mentally and physically ‘back to my best’ after China podium

Under the afternoon sun and the roar of the grandstands at the Shanghai International Circuit,…

5 hours ago

Antonelli admits to ‘heart attack’ moment on way to first F1 win

In a race that will be etched in Formula 1 history, Mercedes sensation Kimi Antonelli…

6 hours ago

McLaren drivers reveal electrical issues that thwarted Chinese GP

There was deep frustration – and a sense of concern – inside the McLaren garage…

6 hours ago