Name: Fernando Alonso

Nationality: Spain

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• Fernando Alonso

Fast becoming one of Formula One's leading lights following back-to-back titles with Renault, a disappointing 2007 season has instead left Fernando Alonso's reputation somewhat sullied.

Making his F1 debut as a 19-year-old, Alonso's first F1 race was for Minardi at the 2001 Australian GP.

It was quickly obvious that Fernando was too way quick to be a mere backmarker and, with manager Flavio Briatore convincing him that a test driver role at Renault in 2002 would reap dividends long-term, a race seat for the following season was duly earned.

Since then his rise has been astonishing, with the next 12 months witnessing Fernando becoming the youngest F1 driver ever on pole, the youngest to set a fastest lap, with his win in the 2003 Hungarian GP making him the youngest ever GP winner.

However, Renault struggled to match their 2003 exploits the following year and, with team-mate Jarno Trulli to the fore early in the season, it appeared for a short while Fernando's star was already on the wane.

Yet he returned to something akin to his previous form in the latter half of the campaign, finishing third in successive races at Hockenheim and Budapest.

The back-to-back podium finishes, though, were only a hint of what was to come and even before the halfway point of the 2005 season it was clear to (almost) everyone that in Fernando Alonso, F1 had found its new king.

While his rivals suffered with either a lack of pace or poor reliability, Fernando, his R25 and its Michelin tyres were bordering on flawless, claiming seven wins, eight podium finishes and the ultimate prize, the Drivers' Championship.

Fernando clinched the title at the Brazilian GP, race 17, ending Michael Schumacher's five-year reign, Kimi Raikkonen's title dream, Spain's title drought and Emerson Fittipaldi's long-standing record for being the youngest-ever F1 World Champion.

Despite announcing in November 2005 that he would be joining the McLaren team for 2007, Alonso stayed with Renault for the 2006 season where, once again, he partnered Giancarlo Fisichella.

As predicted, Fernando went on to claim back-to-back World tiles, although it wasn't as easy as it had been the previous season.

Not only was the season dogged by controversy and the banning of Renault's controversial mass damper suspension system, the Spaniard was also pushed all the way to the chequered flag by Michael Schumacher.

However, one could argue that, in the end, Fernando's title efforts were helped by Schumacher's misfortunes in the final two races.

But no matter how it came about, it was Alonso who was crowned the 2006 World Champion when he finished second at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

However, his first season - and his last - with McLaren didn't produce the results we've come to expect from Alonso.

Although he claimed four race wins and finished the year third in the Drivers' standings, albeit one point behind 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen, his season was fraught with arguments.

First there was 'Stepneygate', which saw Alonso's email conversations with test driver Pedro de la Rosa sink McLaren, earning them a $100 million fine and their disqualification from the Constructors' Championship.

Second there were his on-going arguments with team boss Ron Dennis over his desire for preferential treatment.

And thirdly there were his on- and off-track fights with team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

All in all, Alonso was not cast in a glowing light, often billed as the villian and two weeks after the conclusion of the season it was announced that he would be leaving McLaren after the two parties failed to see how they could continue working together.

Although subsequently linked with Red Bull, Williams and Toyota, there was little surprise when it was announced that Alonso will be making his Renault return this season.

The latter endured a disappointing 2007 campaign in Alonso's absence and, with the two parties re-united, the obvious question is posed: can they revisit past glories?