Grapevine: Alonso Wins Top Sporting Award
Formula One title favourite Fernando Alonso was awarded the 2005 Principe de Asturias prize on Tuesday, Spain's top international sporting honour
The 24-year-old, born in the northern Spanish city of Oviedo where the Principe de Asturias foundation is based, succeeds last year's winner, Moroccan athlete Hicham El Guerrouj.
Renault driver Alonso leads the Formula One championship by 27 points from Finn Kimi Raikkonen with four races go and is poised to become the first Spaniard and the youngest driver to win the title.
"The victories and records that Fernando Alonso holds are the result of an exemplary trajectory that stretches back to his childhood and one that has been characterised by a determination that has opened up new avenues in the history of Formula One in Spain," said the foundation jury that awards the prize.
Alonso began karting at the age of three, going on to win the Spanish, European and world junior championships before switching to cars in 1999, testing for Minardi in 2000.
He joined Renault a year later and won his first Grand Prix in Hungary in 2003. He finished fourth last year and has led this season since victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix in March.
Traditionally, Formula One has been of minority appeal in Spain, but Alonso's success has provoked an explosion of interest with television audiences reaching record levels.
Previous winners of the award include seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, tennis great Martina Navratilova, Spanish golfer Severiano Ballesteros and athletes Carl Lewis and Sebastian Coe.
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Fernando Alonso |
Starting Grid for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
F1 Fast Facts: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Why Russell was right to be wrong about Bottas after Imola F1 clash
George Russell and Valtteri Bottas' collision at Imola on Sunday prompted fury in the Formula 1 paddock. But Russell's carefully-worded heartfelt statement later, acknowledging that his initial response was wrong, proved the right move
How Verstappen and Hamilton’s Imola clash sets the tone for F1’s 2021 title fight
In Max Verstappen's Formula 1 career to date, he has been cast as the 'pretender', an acknowledged top-line performer without the car to regularly challenge Lewis Hamilton. But that no longer applies in 2021, and the start to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was the most telling signal yet of what we can expect from their duel this year
How “overwhelming” McLaren move has given Ricciardo a new verve
Daniel Ricciardo has found a new lease of life at McLaren – a move that’s been years in the making, as he explains to STUART CODLING…
The German legend who raced and beat Nuvolari
Ninety years ago, Rudolf Caracciola became the first non-Italian to win the epic Mille Miglia. We look at how he stacks up to the most famous pre-war ace Tazio Nuvolari, one of the drivers he beat on that day in 1931
How 2021's midfielders have taken lessons from F1's top teams
Formula 1’s latest Imola adventure turned into an expensive trip for many teams due to several crashes throughout the weekend. While balancing the books is an added factor in 2021 with the cost cap, a few midfield teams have cashed in early on development investments
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Driver Ratings
A frantic wet race at Imola produced plenty of excitement and drama as drivers scrabbled for grip. Amid the hatful of mistakes and incidents that ensued, who kept their noses cleanest?
How the Emilia Romagna GP result hinged on three crucial saves
Rain before the start of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix promised to spice up the action, and the race certainly delivered on that. Max Verstappen got the best launch to win from Lewis Hamilton, but both got away with mistakes that could have had serious consequences
The back-bedroom world-beater that began a new F1 era
The first in a line of world beaters was designed in a back bedroom and then constructed in a shed. STUART CODLING recalls the Tyrrell 001
