Never before in Formula 1 has he had to put up with a team-mate that can really challenge him, nor with a team not totally focussed on him. At Minardi in 2001 his team-mates were Tarso Marques and Alex Yoong; at Renault it was Jarno Trulli in 2003, Trulli and Jacques Villeneuve in 2004, and Giancarlo Fisichella in 2005 and 2006.

In none of these cases was the Spaniard truly challenged and what’s more, when things did go wrong he could bank on his team getting behind him.

Not so at McLaren.

Around every corner he is faced with the hullabaloo about team-mate Lewis Hamilton — a hullabaloo not entirely unjustified.

Hamilton’s F1 career has taken off better than that of anyone else in the history of the World Championship, with three podium finishes in his first three races. He has demonstrated he can both absorb and apply pressure and in the process has not put a wheel wrong.

Alonso will continue to face it for as long as the rookie astounds. The English-language media, the most powerful of its kind in Formula 1, has waxed lyrical about Hamilton and with every positive opinion and comparison from a big name the fuss grows larger.

In every interview Fernando is asked about his team-mate’s performances — in fact, the jingoistic English-language media puts the same question to just about every current and past personality they can lay their hands on. “Lewis-mania” is not an exaggeration.

All of this after Alonso had an inexplicably bad race in Bahrain, finishing off the podium for the first time in six races, while his team-mate beat him and came second for the second consecutive time.

Fernando could have been forgiven for not being too concerned about his new team-mate after Melbourne and Sepang, because he comfortably beat the youngster in both races. At Sakhir, however, Hamilton thoroughly trounced him.

At Renault Alonso was the de facto number one driver, because he was the star that delivered the goods. At McLaren, however, the two-times world champion has equal status with a rookie — a rookie who shares with him the lead in the Drivers’ Championship after only three races and who could derail his quest for a third title.

As long as both drivers have a chance of taking the title, McLaren cannot afford to favour one over the other. Anyway it is not in the team’s genes to do so, but if Alonso is perceived to receive preferential treatment the English-language media will slaughter them; if Hamilton becomes favourite, Alonso and the team’s Spanish sponsors will turn against them.

So, if something goes wrong, as in Sakhir, Fernando can only depend on the team finding the gremlin (if any) and providing him with equal machinery to Hamilton’s. Nothing less, but also nothing more, as has happened at Renault.

As a newcomer to the team (don’t forget Lewis has been part of the McLaren family for almost a decade) and with the fuss over Hamilton, Alonso can easily begin to feel neglected — just like when he complained about a lack of support at Renault towards the end of last season. Should this happen, a rift can develop between him and the team that will hold no good for either party.

Bahrain will not be the last time that Fernando gets beaten by Hamilton. If this happens too frequently the Spaniard can also develop self-doubt, something not uncommon for someone still only 25 years old.

The challenge that Fernando faces is larger than the battle for supremacy against Michael Schumacher over the last two seasons. He is now on his own and far more dependent on his self-belief. He will have to dig deep into his psychological reserves to meet it.

The degree by which he passes this test — or fails — will be one of the most fascinating sub-themes of the 2007 Formula 1 drama.