Saturday, September 25, 2021
A remarkable world title
Young blood Alonso stifles Schumacher power
Fernando Alonso is now one of the oldest drivers in Formula 1. But 16 years ago he achieved something historic: As the youngest driver at the time, he was crowned world champion. And he is the first to succeed in replacing none other than the dominator Michael Schumacher.
It had to happen at some point. Formula 1 had become a Formula Ferrari at the beginning of the 2000s, and Scuderia with star driver Michael Schumacher won just about everything at the beginning of the new millennium – until the carmaker from Italy got it wrong with the concept for the racing car for the 2005 season.
After five world championship titles in a row, the 36-year-old Schumacher only won the scandalous race in Indianapolis when only six cars took part. Otherwise, a very young and wildly determined Spaniard determined the events on the racetracks.
Fernando Alonso from Oviedo displayed an almost Schumacheresque insatiability in the Renault. The young man, who started karting at the age of three and initially only reached the pedals with wooden blocks under his feet, won seven races and only missed the podium four times.
Alonso was already established as Formula 1 world champion after the third last race of the season on September 25, 2005 in São Paulo. And not only that: at the age of 24 years and 59 days, the “Prince of Asturias” replaced Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi as the youngest champion. The not always easy-care Alonso was facing golden years, and in fact he successfully defended his title in 2006 in a generation duel with Schumacher. But it stayed that way to this day.
Not always the right team
Alonso made several unfortunate decisions in the choice of his team, in 2008 Lewis Hamilton replaced him as the youngest world champion, in 2010 Sebastian Vettel pressed the mark on 23 years and 134 days. Alsonso never let that stop him: at the age of 40, he is currently contesting his 18th Formula 1 season, he is now driving for the Alpine team. His 32nd and last victory was eight years ago.
After Kimi Räikkönen, Alonso is now the second oldest driver in the field. But the age record is far from in sight. The oldest Formula 1 driver was Louis Chiron. At the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix he was 55 years and 291 days old. After all, the oldest world champion was already 46 years and 41 days old: Juan-Manuel Fangio crowned himself for the fifth time in 1957.