Fernando made his Formula One debut at the Australian Grand Prix on 4th March 2001, driving for the Minardi F1 team. He finished in 12th position.

Fernando took out the 2006 Formula One World Championship with 7 race wins, 14 podiums, 6 poles, 5 fastest laps and 134pts.

During the 2006 F1 season Fernando out qualified Renault team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella in 12 out of 18 races and beat him on track in 14 out of 18 races.

Fernando's success in Formula One has had a major impact on the popularity of the sport in Spain. At the 2007 McLaren Mercedes launch in, over 200,000 Spanish fans lined the streets to see him.

Fernando's favorite place to drive a Formula One car is the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, home of the Belgium GP.

In 2006, Fernando became the youngest man to win back-to-back titles and the eighth in F1 history to achieve that feat (the others: Ascari, Fangio, Brabham, Prost, Senna, Schumacher, Hakkinen).

On September 25th, 2005, Fernando won the World Driver's Championship for Renault. He was 24 years and 58 days. This broke Emerson Fittipaldi's record of being the youngest F1 champion.

Fernando has the nickname ‘El Nano’.

Fernando lists his hobbies as playing Football, training, and cycling.

Fernando enjoys doing magic tricks. His parents bought him a magician's kit when he was young.

Fernando is a fan of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers as well as Spanish pop.

Fernando's company car is a limited edition Mercedes-McLaren SLR 722, which he has described as the "prettiest car in the world."