If it was an unexpected victory, it was nonetheless a wholly merited one, and he followed it up just a fortnight later with a second consecutive success at Fuji, atoning for an error in the same race twelve months previously that had likely cost him a third successive drivers' trophy, and a result that proved Renault were back – and back to stay.

The runner-up spot to an untouchable Massa in the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos was a similarly sublime performance, and one that enabled Alonso to leapfrog Heikki Kovalainen – the man who had replaced him at McLaren – and BMW-Sauber's Nick Heidfeld to fifth place in the final standings.

Given where he and the team had begun proceedings in 2008, it was a superb outcome, and one that had many of the sport's experts lauding the Asturian as the best and most complete driver in F1 once more – and one who had banished the 'spoiled brat' reputation that, rightly or wrongly, he had come to be labelled with by the media during his time at Woking the previous year.

Having pledged his future to the French concern for at least another season – even if the rumours of an eventual switch to Ferrari persist – should Renault maintain its progress over the winter months, there is no reason to suggest that Fernando Alonso will not hit the ground running in 2009 as a genuine championship contender. After what he has been through in 2008, it is the least his talent deserves.


Tomorrow: Who did you vote second in the Driver of the Year poll?