20/03/2006
NEWS STORY
The one-two finish in the 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix was only the second ever for the Renault F1 Team.
Since the opening race of the 2006 Formula 1 season, observers have been predicting a classic battle for the championship. Four teams have the speed and guile to win races, and the points looking like being shared widely all the way through the championship.
That makes yesterday's 1-2 finish for Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso even more satisfying, but it also throws up some interesting parallels. This was only the second-ever one-two finish in Renault's Formula 1 history, and the last time it happened was in 1982 – possibly one of the greatest seasons in the sport's history…
Appropriately enough, 1982 was a year of political upheaval and change. FISA and FOCA were at loggerheads over the political structure and future of the sport. Just like in 2006, there were two types of engine in use – 3.5 litre atmospheric V8 engines and the more powerful 1.5 litre turbos that were just hitting their stride, led by Renault.
That year's world champion was a Finn called Rosberg, driving a Cosworth-powered Williams – plus ça change! And most importantly, there were 11 different winners in 16 races. Nobody won more than two Grands Prix, and seven teams won races – legendary teams like Lotus, Tyrrell and Brabham at that.
The eleventh race of that historic season, was the French Grand Prix, in high summer at the Paul Ricard circuit in the South of France. The two turbo Renault RE30B cars annexed the front row, Arnoux ahead of Prost. In the race's early stages, they were out-paced by the Brabhams of Piquet and Patrese, before unreliability forced them out. Subsequently, the Renaults came home as they qualified – Arnoux ahead of Prost. Indeed, that proved controversial as Prost, fighting for the title, felt his team-mate should have moved over to gift him the win.
Arnoux's victory was the third of his career – just like for Giancarlo yesterday. The Frenchman went on to win a total of 7 Grands Prix, while team-mate Alain Prost was destined to win four world championships.
On the same day, 25 July 1982, the Alonso family would have been in Oviedo in northern Spain, preparing for a special event. In four days' time, their young son Fernando would celebrate his first birthday…!