Sepang, 23 March

Whatever the outcome of the race in a few hours time, for Fernando Alonso, the Sepang weekend will be one to remember. The 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix is in fact his two hundredth participation in a Formula 1 Grand Prix. It’s a significant achievement as it stands, but a closer look at the details of the Spaniard’s career since 2001, his debut season, makes it even more impressive.

Two world titles, thirty wins, thirty two second places and twenty five thirds. These are amazing figures when one considers that, in total, Alonso has made it to the podium eighty seven times, which equates to an average that comes within a whisker of forty four percent. To these figures one can add twenty two poles, out of a total of thirty seven front row starts, and nineteen fastest laps.

Equally impressive are the figures that sum up Fernando’s career since he joined Scuderia Ferrari. He has taken part in fifty nine races for the Prancing Horse, getting to the podium in thirty four of them, with an average of almost sixty percent.

These are impressive statistics that sum up a career during which the Spaniard has always had very clear objectives. He made his debut with Minardi in 2001 and after a year out as a test driver, returned to Formula 1 full time in 2003. Today, aged 31, Fernando still has many records to chase and there is every reason to believe that, for a long time to come, he can keep adding to what is already an extraordinary career.