F1: 5 Times Fernando Alonso Proved he is one of the GOATs

Fernando Alonso is widely regarded as one of the best drivers in the history of Formula 1 and despite his ailing McLaren, most still believe that he's the fastest man on the 2018 grid.

That's debatable, but what isn't in dispute is that the Spanish legend has thrilled F1 fans for the last seventeen years with some stunning manoeuvres and performances that us mere mortals can only dream of pulling off.

Here are just five of his breathtaking moments that has cemented his place as one of the sports' Greatest Of All Time (GOAT):

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#1 The Youngest Winner

Fernando Alonso became the youngest winner in F1 history at the 2003 Hungarian Grand

2003 was one of the most competitive Formula 1 seasons seen in recent times with nine different winners that year. The usual suspects of Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya all racked up victories, but one of that year’s crop arguably stood above all the rest. Fernando Alonso had impressed everybody in his rookie season in 2001, consistently outperforming what was expected of him in his noncompetitive Minardi.

The initial brilliance earned him a move to the newly re-branded Renault team for 2002, but it came at a cost, having to sit-out the season in a reserve driver role. However, when ’03 rolled around, a race seat became available and that was all the invitation the Spaniard needed.

Alonso claimed the first pole and podium of his career earlier in the season at Malaysia but once again lined up in P1 at the Hungaroring. Fernando got pole in Sepang largely due to a lower fuel load in qualifying, but Hungary provided a genuine chance at victory, being one of the most difficult circuits to overtake. Many expected Fernando to be on the defensive for the majority of the race but the first corner of the first lap was as close as the competition would get.

Throughout the Grand Prix, he set fastest lap after fastest lap and simply waltzed away from the chasing pack, he made the world’s best drivers look like amateurs. He led from lights to flag and put a lap on Michael Schumacher in the process, something seen as rare as a blue moon in Grand Prix racing. Alonso was in a league of his own that day, and it would be far from the last time that this would happen.

#2 “That” Overtake at Suzuka 2005

Fernando Alonso's overtake on Michael Schumacher is undoubtedly one of the best in the sport's history.

Overtaking manoeuvres (or lack thereof) are a highly contentious issue in modern F1 racing and that was the case back in the 2005 as well. Therefore, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the race around a circuit like Suzuka, a track where it’s notoriously difficult to pass, would be a dull affair, but you’d have been wrong, oh so wrong.

A wet qualifying session shook up the grid, with Michael Schumacher starting 14th, the McLarens of Raikkonen and Montoya in 17th and 18th, respectively, and Alonso in 16th.

Both Alonso and Schumacher scythed their way through the field in the early stages, and on Lap 19, found themselves in 5th and 6th. Fernando was clearly faster in his superior Renault but couldn't overtake a stubborn Schumacher, who was placing his Ferrari perfectly. However, that same lap, Alonso got a fantastic run out of Spoon corner, picked up the slipstream and swooped around the outside of the 130R in a death-defying move.

One of the most legendary manoeuvres in motorsport history and befitting of someone of Alonso's talent. The Spanish Samurai in the Land of the Rising Sun, you couldn't make it up.

#3 Passing the Torch

Alonso's Second Championship cemented his place among the greats of F1.

Alonso's first world title in 2005 made him the youngest champion in Formula 1 history, beating Emerson Fittipaldi's record by over a year. His second title, though, sealed his place among the great champions of the sport, because he beat one of the sport's best ever drivers.

Ferrari were a joke by their standards in '05, only winning one Grand Prix, the controversial USGP a.k.a "Tyregate". The Scuderia had a resurgence in '06, with Alonso and Schumacher competing for the title throughout the year.

In the end, Alonso came out on top, the first driver to beat Michael in a season-long title fight since Mika Hakkinen in 1998. To be the best, you've got to beat the best, and Fernando has certainly done that.

#4 Faultless Season

Alonso's performances throughout the 2012 season were worthy of being World Champion that year.

2012, like 2003, was one of the most competitive seasons in F1's history, and another where Alonso shined in the chaos of that year's races. Fernando was in his third year at Ferrari and the Maranello concern produced a dog of a car for that campaign. Both Alonso and Massa were relatively nowhere in Australia and hopes weren't high for the following race in Malaysia, but what followed was the stuff of legends.

Despite qualifying in eighth, Alonso dragged his car up the field in the torrential rain, making the calls for tyre changes at the perfect times to claim one of the most unlikely victories ever.

Combine that with a sensational home win in Valencia from 11th on the grid and a superb drive to second in Brazil to almost claim his third world title, this was a faultless season in a car that was probably third or fourth in the pecking order at best through the year.

It's without a doubt the best performance through a year that I've seen since I've been watching F1 consistently in 2007.

#5 The Ultimate Qualifying Lap

Alonso showed us that he's lost none of his speed last year.

The one weakness in Alonso's game is possibly qualifying. If you compare his win count (32) to his pole tally (22), that rightly suggests that he's generally faster in races than over 1 lap. You'd be a fool to say that Fernando is slow in qualifying, though, as he's put some sensational laps in over the years, and he showed that he's lost none of his speed last year in his home race.

McLaren were extremely poor in 2017, the progress of the previous year had been erased and the team were in a similar position to when they first used Honda engines in '15. Another engine failure in practice for the Spanish Grand Prix alluded to a difficult weekend for the Woking outfit, but their double world champion driver wasn't having any of it. 'Nando defied the odds to get his McLaren into Q3 and incredibly qualified best of the rest in seventh.

This lap holds a special place in my heart, because this was the first Grand Prix I attended in person, and I saw first-hand how Alonso was visibly quicker than everyone through Turn 9. Not even Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel was putting as much on the line as Alonso, it was breathtaking and I feel honoured to have that story to tell.

Whether Alonso will return in 2020 or not, one thing is for sure, all F1 fans will miss one of the greatest drivers the sport's ever seen in 2019.