Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso

Name: Fernando Alonso

Nationality: Spain

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Fernando Alonso's return to Renault in 2008 may not have yielded another world title but it did cement his place as one of the sport's greatest drivers.

Two victories in an underpowered Renault served as a powerful reminder that the Spaniard remains a force to be reckoned with - no matter the machinery at his disposal.

Alonso made his F1 debut for Minardi as a 19-year-old at the 2001 Australian GP.

It was quickly obvious that Fernando was too quick to be a mere backmarker and it was no surprise when manager Flavio Briatore promoted Fernando to the role of Renault tester and then handed him a race seat in 2003.

The next 12 months saw him become the youngest driver ever to take pole position (in Malaysia) and his win in Hungary made him the youngest ever grand prix winner.

However, Renault struggled to match their 2003 exploits the following year and for a while Fernando was in the shadow of team-mate Jarno Trulli.

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 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 reliability gremlins, Fernando, his R25 and its Michelin tyres were bordering on the flawless, claiming seven wins, eight podium finishes and the ultimate prize, the Drivers' Championship title.

Fernando clinched the title at the Brazilian GP, ending Michael Schumacher's five-year reign and also breaking Emerson Fittipaldi's long-standing record for being the youngest-ever 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.

Fernando went on to claim a second straight World title, although it wasn't as easy as it had been the previous season.

Not only was the season dogged by controversies such as the banning of Renault's 'mass damper' device but Alonso was also pushed all the way to the finishing line by Michael Schumacher.

The German came on strong as the season progressed and following a victory in the Chinese Grand Prix, he and Alonso were tied in the Drivers' Championship.

However, Schumacher then suffered an engine failure in the Japanese Grand Prix - a race Alonso subsequently won - with second place in the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix more than enough to guarantee successive titles.

The move to McLaren followed but a tumultuous 2007 season ended with Alonso heading straight back to Renault.

On paper, four race wins and third place in the Drivers' standings - finishing one point behind the 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen - sound respectable enough.

However, the season was fraught with arguments and bitter accusations.

There was the 'spying' scandal involving Ferrari, which saw Alonso's email conversations with test driver Pedro de la Rosa help sink McLaren - the team handed a massive fine and disqualified from the Constructors' Championship.

The emails came to light as part of his ongoing arguments with team boss Ron Dennis - Alonso wanting preferential treatment over rookie team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

His ego undoubtedly dented by Hamilton's emergence, Alonso was billed as the villain of the piece and two weeks after the conclusion of the season it was announced that he would be leaving.

Although the 2008 season did not yield a world title for the Spaniard, it did cement his place as one of the sport's greatest drivers as he produced results beyond the car's capabilities.

Renault were well off the pace at the start of the year, but their R28 chassis started to show real signs of improvement in the second half of the season and Alonso ended up scoring back-to-back wins in Singapore and Japan.

He finished the season fifth in the standings, ahead of his McLaren replacement Heikki Kovalainen, and also helped Renault achieve fourth place in the Constructors' Championship.

Although speculation continues to suggest a long-term switch to Ferrari, 2009 sees Alonso and Renault looking to build on last season's momentum.