Fernando Alonso  Born: 29.07.81  Birthplace:Oviedo, Spain  Team: Renault  2006 Car Number: 1  Last Season: First  GP Pedigree (After Brazilian GP)  Starts: 87  Victories: 15  Poles: 15  Fastest Laps: 6  Points: 367  GP Debut: 2001, Australian GP, Minardi   Five-year Stats

Having become F1's youngest-ever world champion in 2005, and then stunning the sport (and Renault) by signing a multi-million pound contract with McLaren, Fernando is already on course to become one of motor racing's leading lights over the next decade.

The 23-year-old's first race was in a Minardi 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 for 2003.

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

However, Renault struggled to match their 2003 exploits in 2004 and for a while Fernando's star appeared to be 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 an abundance of 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, 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.

Returning to Renault in 2006, where once again he'll partner Giancarlo Fisichella, Fernando can expect any pressure he may have felt prior to winning the title to double as his supporters will him to win and his detractors will him to lose.

Matters have been further complicated by the stunning news, announced in December, that Alonso has signed a deal with McLaren from 2007 onwards.

But as Fernando didn't even once show any sign of pressure during the 2005 season, his rivals shouldn't expect him to suddenly start cracking under it this year.

Formula One Career:

2006:	GP with Renault
2005:	GP with Renault (victories in Malaysia, Bahrain, San Marino, Europe, France, Germany, China - 133pts WORLD CHAMPION)
2004:	GP with Renault - (59pts - fourth in championship).
2003:	GP with Renault - victory in Hungary (55pts - sixth in championship).
2001:	GP with Minardi - (0pts).

Background:

2000:	FIA Formula 3000 Championship.
1999:	Winner of Nissan Movistar European Open.
1998:	Runner-up in European Kart Championship.
1997:	Winner of Spanish and Italian National Kart Championships.
1996:	Winner of Spanish and World Junior Karting titles
1993-5:	Three-time winner of Spanish National Junior Kart Championship.