Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso Díaz (born on July 29, 1981 in Oviedo, Spain) is a Formula One racing driver, currently living in Oxford. On September 25 2005 he won the World Driver's Championship title at the age of 24 years and 59 days, thus breaking Emerson Fittipaldi's record of being the youngest F1 champion, and ending Michael Schumacher's run of five consecutive championships.

Formula One years

Fernando Alonso has often been tipped as Michael Schumacher's natural successor. The young Spaniard does share some of Schumacher's most impressive attributes. Alonso is one of the few drivers capable of being on the pace every lap of every race and having a rare gift for driving around major problems while losing minimal lap time.

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Nicknamed 'Magic Alonso', Fernando has a good sense of humor and is known as one of the paddock?s jokers ? he tried out his card and magic trick on Lord March at the 2005 Goodwood Festival, the inhabitants of the paddock delighted to see a driver that actually smiles for a change, someone who actually remembers that it's still a sport.

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Alonso was the third-youngest driver in F1 history to start a race when he made his debut with Minardi at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix. While the car was not highly competitive, Alonso did a sturdy job, occasionally out-qualifying better-equipped opponents, yet failed to score a point in his rookie season.

Related Topics:
Minardi - 2001 Australian Grand Prix - Rookie

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His driving talents earned him a spot with the newly-founded Renault team in 2002 as a test driver (run by his manager, Flavio Briatore); the team groomed him to be a regular driver in 2003. With a much better car than in his first F1 stint, Alonso became the youngest driver ever to win a Formula One pole position at the 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix; he also became the youngest driver ever to win a Formula One race at the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix. At season's end, he was a solid sixth in the championship, with 55 points and four podiums.

Related Topics:
Renault - 2002 - Flavio Briatore - 2003 - Pole position - 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix - 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix

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Alonso remained with Renault for the 2004 season, and although he did not win any race, Alonso did confirm his status as one of the leading drivers in Formula One. He ended the year a career-best fourth in the championship standings, scoring 59 points and four podiums. His performances in the latter races of the year were particularly noteworthy, as he comprehensively outpaced his new teammate (1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, who replaced Jarno Trulli for the final three races of the season.)

Related Topics:
2004 season - 1997 - World Champion - Jacques Villeneuve - Jarno Trulli

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Fernando's success has spawned "Alonsomania" in Spain, as he has become the country's first Formula One World Champion.

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