10 of Fernando Alonso's top F1 moments

Heading into the final race weekend of Fernando Alonso’s eventful 17-year F1 career, we look at his finest moments.

Abu Dhabi will be Alonso’s 314th and final Grand Prix with the Spaniard just a point above Esteban Ocon in 10th-place in the driver’s standings.

It’s an unremarkable ending to a career that had put Alonso at the top of the Motorsport world as the most revered driver to someone left scrapping for the final points paying positions.

But Alonso can still leave with his head held high with two drivers’ titles, 32 wins, 22 pole positions and 97 podium finishes to his name.

El Nano went from being a young kid in an uncompetitive Minardi at the back of the grid to become Spain’s first-ever world champion and ending Michael Schumacher’s five-year domination.

Even today, Alonso is still regarded by current and past drivers as one of the finest out there on the grid.

The huge void he leaves behind will undoubtedly be felt at Melbourne at the start of the 2019 F1 season in March.

But, for now, at least, we’ll look at some of the greatest moments of his career ahead of this weekend’s season finale.

#10 Malaysia 2003 - First pole position

Fernando Alonso of Spain and the Renault team in the pits after claiming pole position

After spending the 2002 season as a test driver for Renault, Alonso’s talent and work-rate convinced the French team to drop Jenson Button to make room for him the following season.

And it took just two races for the Spaniard to show everyone just how right Renault was by becoming F1’s youngest pole-sitter at 21 years old in a one-lap shootout in Malaysia.

Alonso then followed it up with a solid drive to his first podium finish in third-place.

Any doubts over him were quickly erased and suddenly he was was a future champion in the making.

#9 Hungary 2003 - First race victory

Ahead of the 13th round of 2003, Alonso had collected another two podium finishes.

However, the Hungarian Grand Prix saw him collect his second career pole position and then dominate from start to finish to collect his maiden win and Renault’s first in two decades.

Alonso became F1’s youngest race winner at 22 years old and moved 18 points within Schumacher’s lead in the driver’s table.

#8 Imola 2005 - Beating a resurgent Schumacher

Tyre Regulation changes for the 2005 campaign had swung things in Michelin’s favour with Bridgestone & Ferrari struggling to keep pace.

One of the notable beneficiaries of this change was Renault and Alonso, with the latter winning two of the opening three races.

However, round four provided Alonso with his first real test in the form of a blindly quick Schumacher who hounded the rear wing of young Spaniard without mercy.

But Alonso kept his cool and held on for the remaining 12 laps to secure a memorable win that proved his credentials as a title challenger for that year.

#7 Brazil 2005 - Becoming F1’s youngest world champion

Alonso may not have had the fastest car, but a case of strong consistency and reliability handed him the title over Kimi Raikkonen and Mclaren.

El Nano ended Schumacher’s run of five consecutive crowns and scooped seven race wins.

At 24 years and 58 days, Alonso becomes F1’s youngest ever world champion at that point in time with two races remaining.

#6 Japan 2005 - Passing Schumacher at the 130R in Suzuka

A moment of sheer bravery from Alonso saw him complete a breathtaking overtaking move by somehow passing Schumacher’s Ferrari on the outside at Suzuka’s 130R left-hand turn.

It was an incredible piece of race craft and truly signalled the beginning of a new era in F1.

#5 Brazil 2006 - Winning his second & final title

Perhaps the most significant of his two crowns after emerging victorious from a season-long duel with Schumacher.

Alonso had dominated the opening part of the season before a run of five wins in seven races put Schumacher level on points.

But the German’s retirement in the penultimate race in Japan meant he needed a miracle to overhaul Alonso in the final race at Brazil.

An early puncture for Schumacher, however, put an end to a thrilling battle with Alonso bringing his Renault home in second-place and securing another driver’s title.

Beating the old master set Alonso up as the rightful heir to his throne.

#4 Bahrain 2010 - Debut win for Ferrari

A great start enabled Alonso to get the jump on new Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa for second-place.

The Spaniard then moved into the lead with 15 laps left, after Vettel’s Red Bull suffered a spark plug failure, to lead home a Ferrari 1-2.

It wasn’t the most spectacular of races, but sitting on the top of the podium in the red Ferrari suit was a dream of Alonso’s.

#3 2010 Singapore - First & only Grand Chelem

The twisty 23-corner Marina Bay Street Circuit brought Alonso one of the greatest challenges of his F1 career by holding off title rival Vettel for almost the entire race.

The German was literally all over his gearbox almost the entire time and finished just 0.293 seconds off him in the end.

It was also Alonso’s only “Grand Chelem” - where he got pole, fastest lap and led every one of the 61 laps on his way to victory.

#2 2012 Malaysia - Masterful win in wet conditions

In a Ferrari that was miles off the pace in Australia, Alonso emerged victor of the second race in 2012 in torrential conditions at Sepang.

Despite starting ninth on the grid, Alonso produced a masterful drive in the wet and fended off Sauber’s Sergio Perez brilliantly before the Mexican made a mistake.

The unlikely victory set Alonso up superbly for a title challenge that year, which he took right down to the final race.

#1 Valencia 2012 - Emotional comeback win at home

Alonso had a hugely emotional victory in front of his adoring home fans at Valencia after winning the race from 11th on the grid.

The Spaniard soared up to fourth place before the safety car was deployed and soon moved up to second at the expense of Lewis Hamilton and Romain Grosjean.

Vettel’s Red Bull then had to retire with alternator failure on lap 35, which handed Alonso the lead and later the win.

After stopping his Ferrari on track during his victory lap, Alonso got out and laid the Spanish flag on the ground by the grandstands and spent 10 minutes being applauded by fans.

Edited by Kishan Prasad