Alonso had a fantastic drive on on Sunday to become the first Spaniard to win his home Formula 1 GP on an unforgettable afternoon.
The 24-year-old world champion warmed up the 130 000 crowd, the biggest yet at the Circuit de Catalunya, by giving King Juan Carlos a ride around the Barcelona track in a road car before the race.
A few hours later he took the chequered flag to drive that same crowd into a frenzy, his king joining him on the podium to present his happy subject with the winner's trophy as the national anthem played. It was one of the greatest moments in a career that has seen a few firsts already.
It was, the Austrian declared proudly, one of the greatest moments in a career that has seen a few firsts already.
In the race, there was only one king of the road and that was Alonso.