Fernando Alonso’s rise from a rookie with Minardi in 2001 to a defining figure of modern Formula One reflected a driver who adapted quickly and carried a clear sense of race craft from the beginning. Born on July 29 1981 in Oviedo he progressed through the early grid with steady precision, becoming the youngest pole sitter and race winner of that era in 2003 and setting the stage for a sustained presence at the front of the sport. His breakthrough seasons with Renault in 2005 and 2006 confirmed