Fernando Alonso’s disastrously brief McLaren stint did little for his reputation, but back at his spiritual home of Renault last year he proved that he remains arguably the finest all-round driver in Formula 1.

It took time for the double world champion to come to terms with scrabbling for minor points in the first part of 2008, and desperation crept in on too many occasions.

As Renault improved, though, Alonso rediscovered his true form.

Despite his car still being far from a match for Ferrari or McLaren, the Spaniard out-scored all rivals in the final third of 2008, and took two shock wins.

That surge buoyed Alonso, and he wants nothing less than a third championship this year.

With rumours of a future Ferrari switch refusing to go away, Renault must deliver the car Alonso needs to achieve his goals in 2009 or risk losing him for a second time.


Career log

The future champion entered F1 at the underprivileged end of the pit lane in 2001, driving for a Minardi team that had been on the brink of folding two months earlier.

Its hastily-built chassis should have been slowest by far, yet Alonso dragged it to the brink of the top 10 on occasion.

Renault boss Flavio Briatore was searching for a ‘new Schumacher’ – a burgeoning superstar to build his revitalised team around.

Alonso ticked all the right boxes.

After an educational year as Renault’s test driver, he made an explosive return to racing in 2003.

His first pole and podium came in Malaysia, then lapped Michael Schumacher on the way to his maiden win in Hungary.

A less impressive 2004 proved to be just a blip, as Alonso swept all before him in 2005.

Renault hit the ground running, and Alonso took three straight wins early on.

By mid-season Kimi Raikkonen’s McLaren was often the fastest package, but Alonso pounced whenever the fragile McLaren faltered, and duly became the youngest ever world champion.

Alonso then stunned F1 by announcing he would leave for McLaren after one more season with Renault.

But he gave Renault the perfect farewell present in the form of a second consecutive title, dominating the opening rounds and then doggedly clinging on as Schumacher and Ferrari got ever stronger in the summer.

McLaren and Alonso both had very high hopes when they joined forces in 2007.

It didn’t take long for things to go awry, though.

Spooked by both team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s speed and particularly his very close relationship with the team, the previously unflappable Alonso made some uncharacteristic errors and demonstrated hitherto unseen petulance.

Yet even as his relationship with McLaren unravelled, he remained quick enough to come within one point of a third straight title, before both parties decided to call time on their ill-fated alliance, allowing Alonso to rejoin Renault.


The early years

A karting ace in his teens, Alonso did not dally for long in the junior formulae.

He won the Spanish-based Formula Nissan series in 1999 and then got straight amongst the experienced drivers in Formula 3000 – ending his debut season with a crushing victory at Spa.

Alonso would have been a clear favourite for the 2001 title, but by that time he had already tested impressively for Minardi and F1 beckoned instead.