Alonso earns Renault home victory

FERNANDO Alonso lapped up the celebrations on Renault’s home ground after winning the French Grand Prix at a canter at Magny-Cours to move one step closer to his first world championship.

Alonso dominated yesterday’s race to win from pole position, and he was keen to savour the moment when he crossed the finishing line in front of grandstands packed with fans wearing the blue and yellow of home heroes Renault.

His cruise to a fifth win of the season was so easy even Alonso admitted he was bored towards the end, when all he could concentrate on was milking the applause of the crowd after beating title rival Kimi Raikkonen to the chequered flag. The Spaniard said: “After the last pit stop things were already quite certain. We had no problems at all with the car or with Kimi.