In his first full Formula One season in a competitive race car, Fernando Alonso, at just 22, driving a Renault, won the Hungarian Grand Prix and finished on the podium three more times to play a crucial role in the most exciting Formula One season for years.
His flamboyant driving laid down a serious challenge to the winning monopoly of the top teams - Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes and Williams-BMW. Alonso made his Formula One debut in 2001 for Minardi before moving to Renault as test driver in 2002 which gave him valuable experience before his remarkable breakthrough.
