His 2006 title made him the sport’s then-youngest-ever double world champion.īuoyed by this momentum, he quickly made his mark at McLaren in 2007, winning his second race for the marque and quickly re-establishing the team at the competitive vanguard after a disappointing ’06 season. For the record, he still scored seven victories, and backed those up with seven further runner-up spots. It made for a tense, nervy and paranoid season – but one where Fernando once again triumphed by playing the numbers game whenever he lacked the outright competitiveness to win. That season, the old enemy – Schumacher – was back in contention, and both he and his Ferrari team used every weapon in their sizeable armoury to peg back Fernando’s progress. Standing on the podium, his ear was turned by Ron Dennis, who quietly assured the Spaniard that his future surely lay in one of Woking’s silver cars.Ī deal was quickly signed – but for 2007, leaving him to once again race for Renault in ’06.

He was crowned in Brazil, finishing third behind – presciently – two McLarens. Underlining the point, his was a world crown won with the seasoned experience of a master, not that of a fresh-faced youngster feeling his way nervously toward his first championship. The trickle of victories quickly turned into a torrent: seven wins by the end of the season, but – just as important – a steady stream of podium positions (five runner-up spots and three third places) that cemented his ascent to the title. It was a performance marked by the skill of an old veteran rather than a hungry newcomer. It was immediately apparent at that year’s San Marion Grand Prix, where his incredibly precise defence of the lead kept no less than keening, hungry world champion Michael Schumacher at bay. With his intent signified, his move to the Renault team gave him the firepower to fulfill his ambition.Īrmed with 2005’s R25, the greatness that had been glimpsed in snatches was quickly and thoroughly refined. The giant-killing performances were what caught your attention first: hustling an uncompetitive Minardi around Suzuka to finish a barely credible 11th in 2001 seemingly appearing from nowhere to grab his first pole position (Malaysia 2003) and becoming the then-youngest-ever grand prix winner (Hungary, again in ’03) in truly effortless fashion.

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