‘Fantastic’ Alonso the youngest champion

RENAULT boss Flavio Briatore last night led the praise of newly-crowned world champion Fernando Alonso when the Spaniard became the youngest title winner in the history of the sport.

Alonso secured the points needed to end rival Kimi Raikkonen’s season-ending challenge in yesterday’s Brazilian Grand Prix, when he finished third after a race that epitomised the 24-year-old’s cool and consistent approach to the title battle.

And Briatore said: “It has been a fantastic championship and Fernando is a fantastic champion. We have been fighting to the end and he has done the best for the performance we have at this moment.