Alonso at Renault from 2021: announcement in sight?

Never two without three. Fernando Alonso would get ready to put on the suit Renault for the 3rd time in his rich and long career. 

Contacted this Tuesday by AUTOhebdo, Renault did not wish to comment on the rumor. However, according to our information and as we announced last month (AH No. 2264), the Asturian would be on the verge of being made official, the announcement could take place very soon this week. Alonso would commit at least until 2022 and the introduction of the new technical regulations which Renault has made its priority objective.

After the frenzy of movements in the transfer window at the beginning of May – arrival of Carlos Sainz in Ferrari replacing Sebastian Vettel not retained, departure from Daniel Ricciardo in the direction of McLaren – the transfer market had returned to relative calm and it was written that the next domino to fall would concern the identity of the new teammateEsteban Ocon.

Asked about the issue in Austria last week, Cyril Abiteboul remained evasive to say the least. “ We need a fast driver who supports the Renault project, replied the French manager. The nature and structure of our stable is very clear. We have a fairly unique identity in the landscape F1 but let's remain a young team which encountered difficulties last year. 

We need someone who understands this context and the value of the work and effort we put in. We interact with big names, others a little less well known. We take the time to ensure that the profiles are a good match ». 

Abiteboul, however, is fed up with having to keep up with denials and wants the team to be transparent by moving forward with a well-defined plan. 

This project therefore includes the return of the darling Alonso, who had the heyday of the Losange from 2003 to 2006 with two Drivers-Constructors doubles under his belt. Having left for McLaren in 2007, Alonso returned to the fold for the first time in 2008 following a stormy adventure near Woking. 

The native of Oviedo stayed for two seasons during which his equipment only allowed him to sign a pair of successes, including a controversial one in Singapore in 2008. Alonso remains to this day the last driver to have won with the team Renault. It was during the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji. 

He then joined Ferrari where he came close to a third world title twice, in 3 and 2010, but ended up being frustrated by the lack of performance of the Prancing Horse cars against the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel and left Maranello at the end of 2014. 

Having buried the hatchet with McLaren and its boss Ron Dennis, Alonso returned to the British team at a time when Honda was making its comeback in F1. The difficulties of the Japanese engine manufacturer with the V6 turbo hybrid will lead to a rapid deterioration of relations with the Spanish driver, who will change his mind about the Indianapolis 500 with a first almost winning attempt in 2017 aboard a car fielded by Andretti-Autosport. 

Despite switching to a Renault engine in 2018, McLaren did not immediately regain its splendor and Alonso left F1 because he felt he was done with it. 

In the meantime, the Spaniard had won a first victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Toyota and he added a second the following season. On the other hand, he failed to qualify for the Indy 500 with a single-seater operated by McLaren, and is still chasing the Triple Crown. 

World ChampionEndurance in 2018-19, Alonso tried his hand at the Paris-Dakar at the beginning of January for the first time with the Japanese manufacturer and he will compete again at the Indianapolis 1 this summer, again in McLaren colors. 

However, all these experiences have not made him forget Formula 1, where he has 32 victories, 22 pole positions, and 97 podiums: the discipline of his heart that he would therefore be on the verge of rediscovering with his first love.