A Season in Numbers

By Renault F1
October 24 2006

Both Renault F1 Team and Fernando Alonso out-scored their 2005 totals this season on their way to championship glory. In 2005, Fernando Alonso took the world title three races from the end of the championship.

This year, it may have taken until the final round, but even under extreme pressure the Spaniard scored more points than last season.

With a total of 134 points, against 133 twelve months ago, he demonstrated just how exceptional this season was. Fernando won seven races: Bahrain, Australia, Spain, Monaco, Great Britain, Canada and Japan. He only retired twice, in Budapest and Monza, following mechanical problems. Of those 16 finishes, he was on the podium for 14 of them – which takes his total number of podiums to 37 since Malaysia 2003! In 2006, he also set new marks: 6 pole positions, like in 2005, to take his total to 15 since 2003. He also set five fastest laps this year, against just two last season.

As for Fisico, he scored 72 points – against 58 last year. This meant he finished 4th in the drivers’ championship this year, against 5th last year. That’s the best result of his career, and his part in Renault’s double constructors’ championship is a Formula 1 first for an Italian. What’s more, the Italian retired just twice this season – against six times in 2005.

Finally, the Renault F1 Team has reasons to celebrate too. The team scored points in 17 of 18 races, drawing a blank only in Budapest. In 36 starts, the drivers retired just four times – compared to seven times last year. The team finished the season with a total of 206 points, against 191 last year. In 2005, the teams fighting for the title scored 373 points; this year, Ferrari and Renault took that total to 407! The number illustrates the intensity of the season-long battle. Renault F1 Team scored 8 wins, like in 2005, and took 19 podium finishes compared to 18 last year.

One thing’s for sure: neither world title had anything to do with luck, and everything to do with the team’s determination to build on 2005, and raise its game even further!