Fernando Alonso

10th anniversary of the site

June 15, 2008 -- More than 50,000 people attended the Renault Roadshow of June 15, which took place at the Technocentre (in Guyancourt, near Paris). This event, the most popular of its kind ever organized in France, took place in a family atmosphere. Fernando Alonso, ING Renault F1 Team driver, gave a demonstration at the wheel of a Formula 1 car.

ING Renault F1 Team Driver Fernando Alonso

April 2008 -- Fernando Alonso is back at Renault, once again racing for Renault F1 Team. With its "We all feel something special when we buy a new car” baseline, the new international ad campaign has a mischievous, easy-going feel, underlined by the use of the song “Cheek to Cheek”, by Fred Astaire for the TV commercial. In the ad, Fernando Alonso is getting ready to leave his hotel but is waylaid by a series of chance encounters. Throughout them all, he retains the attitude of a true gentleman and the winning smile of a man who has it all. He finally leaves the hotel in his Renault Mégane F1 Team, looking happy and satisfied.

Highlights:
• Renault is celebrating the return of Fernando Alonso and the success of Renault
Mégane with an international advertising campaign

March 4, 2008 -- On 31 January 2008 next to Paris, the ING Renault F1 Team officially launched its season as it revealed the brand new Renault F1 R28 and its driver line-up: Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet. The team announced its determination to return to the front of the F1 field in 2008.

The launch ceremony, which took place last 31 January at Renault Square Com, the brand’s communications centre in Boulogne-Billancourt (France), was attended by Renault President and CEO Carlos Ghosn, along with 500 media from around the world.

07.12.2007 -- The star-studded FIA Gala in Monaco was a fitting finalé for a dramatic season in the FIA Formula One World Championship. Not since 1986 has the championship hosted a three-way title showdown at the final round, with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen taking the title in a thrilling finish.

Raikkonen said: “I am very happy to be here to receive this trophy that comes with winning the World Championship. This has always been my goal and I am particularly pleased to have achieved it in my first year with Ferrari, which is a fantastic team of people who are extraordinary, both professionally and from the human point of view.

Woking, 2nd November 2007 -- Following a meeting between Fernando Alonso and McLaren, it was agreed that it would be in the best interests of both parties to bring the relationship to an end.

The mutual parting of ways has not been discussed until now, since it was felt that any such discussion could have seriously disrupted the team’s and Fernando’s 2007 Formula 1 World Championship challenge. Both parties believe that this was the right decision.

FERNANDO ALONSO:

Woking, UK, Wednesday 10th October 2007 -- With only one Grand Prix left this season, the 2007 Formula 1 Driver’s World Championship battle is more intense than it has been for a long time with both the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers having been at the top of the point standings since the fourth race of the 2007 season. Consequently there was, and is, competitive tension between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton who are fighting as team mates for the Championship title.

30 September 2007 -- Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton has won the Japanese Grand Prix, moving closer to becoming the first rookie to win the season championship.

On a rain-soaked track Sunday, Lewis Hamilton's McLaren teammate and main rival, Fernando Alonso of Spain, crashed out on the 42nd lap of the 67-lap race.

In the point standings, Lewis Hamilton now leads second-place Fernando Alonso 107-95 with two races to go, and could clinch the title next week in Shanghai.

The 22-year-old British driver has now won four races this season.

He finished Sunday more than eight seconds ahead of Heikki Kovalainen of Renault, who was followed by Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari in third place.

(Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.)

Source: VOANews.com

Fuji, Japan, Sept. 29, 2007:

Lewis Hamilton:
“A very good qualifying for me and also the team. I really like the Fuji circuit. We looked strong already yesterday during practice when it was dry. Obviously today’s wet conditions made it a very challenging session particularly as this morning’s free practice had been cancelled – this makes today’s result even more satisfying. The car ran perfectly, and the team has done a great job in making sure we were as prepared as possible. My final lap was quite good. I managed to improve my style in a couple of corners which made a difference but lost a little bit of time in the exit of the last corner. Today’s pole position is important, but tomorrow is when it counts.”

Fernando Alonso: