Fernando Alonso
Nationality: Spanish
DOB: 29/07/81
Races: 105
Wins: 19
Podums: 49
Pole Positions: 17
Total Career Points: 490
Nelsinho Piquet
Nationality: Brazilian
DOB : 25/07/85
Races: 0
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Pole Positions: 0
Total Career Points: 0
Fernando, full name Fernando Alonso Diaz, is one of the biggest names in Formula One this decade, and still has plenty of years left in him. In 2001, Alonso became the third-youngest driver to ever start a race when he signed up for a season at Minardi. Here, he failed to score, but was rewarded with a test drive at Renault for 2002, and was promoted to the main seat in 2003. It was in 2003 where Alonso got his name on the board, by achieving four podium finishes, including his first ever race win, at Hungary.
He stayed with Renault in 2004. He failed to win a race but nevertheless improved his overall position, getting fourth place. In 2005, Renault broke their own personal sound barrier and Alonso stormed the championship, winning seven races, and only failing to make the podium four times. Here, Alonso became the youngest-ever winner of a Championship, taking the world title at the age of 24. He won it again the year after, becoming the youngest double winner. He then partnered Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in 2007, where Alonso finished just one point off a third championship in a row. Now, in 2008, back with a Renault team that failed to impress last season, Fernando hopes to make another title challenge, but I don’t think he’ll have a car that will suit him.
PREDICTION: 5th
Nelson Piquet won the Formula One Championship in 1981, 1983 and 1987. Now, his son, Nelsinho Piquet (also referred to as Nelson Piquet Jr.) is at Renault, hoping to match that feat. In 2001, Nelsinho started racing in Formula 3, following several years of karting. In 2002, he started racing in South American F3, where he became champion, and followed it up with a third place in British Formula 3 in 2003; a championship he would win in 2004, and become the youngest-ever driver to do so. Also in 2004, he first handled an F1 car, testing for Williams. He raced for Team Brazil in the A1 GP in 2005, before returning to GP2, where he finished runner-up to a certain Lewis Hamilton.
He returned to F1 testing in 2007 where he was test driver for Renault. Since then, he has been promoted to partner two-time champion Alonso in the race seats. Piquet isn’t totally new to this, so he may well strike up a few points, but I cannot see a race win on the horizon just yet.
PREDICTION: 10th
Filed under: Pre-Season Predictions | Tagged: alonso, f1, fernando, formula, jr, junior, nelsinho, nelson, one, piquet, predictions, renault |
Toro Bloggo's F1 Paddock 
In 2002, he started racing in GP2, where he became champion, and followed it up with a third place in British Formula 3 in 2003;
2002 GP2 should be South American F3.
(just stumbled here because of Google, no offence meant 😉
[TOROBLOGGO: No offence taken. Thank you for the correction!]
One gets the feeling he’s just done a Jacques Villeneuve though, walking away from his best chance of success which will never be the same for him as it was. Renault have become the new Benetton. TBH I feel sorry for Piquet – he’s bound to have a torrid time with El Whingeo.
^ agreed, but Renault built a Championship winning car a few seasons ago… I don’t know why, but it all went very wrong last year, and perhaps they’re looking for Alonso to bring back some glory to the team?
Briatore has no clue how to fix Renault, so is just clutching at the straw he believes made the difference last time. Trouble is, Alonso at Renault 1 had Fisichella as a team mate, whose reputation for being a fast driver was made when he drove for Minardi but which never turned into results when confronted with competition: he always backed down from a challenge. Alonso pretty much imploded when confronted with a team mate who was actually fast as well as competitive for a change. We all now know how destructive one of Alonso’s sulks can be. BMW have more chance than Renault this year. Even Williams with their customer Toyota engine.