Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso is the most decorated Spanish driver in history and, for many, one of the most complete ever. The Asturian from Oviedo broke the Ferrari-Schumacher stranglehold with Renault, winning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 and becoming the youngest champion in history at the time.

What cemented his legend was not only those titles but his knack for wringing more from cars than they should give. He fell just short of the championship in 2007, 2010 and 2012, the latter dragging an inferior Ferrari to the final race against Vettel's dominant Red Bull. His race intelligence, wet-weather pace and calculated aggression make him unpredictable and feared.

He backed projects that never came good — the McLaren-Honda return was an ordeal — yet never lost his speed. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice and the World Endurance Championship, then returned to F1 with Alpine and Aston Martin. More than two decades at the top, still fighting for podiums past forty, define a career shaped as much by talent as by misfortune.