OFFICIAL: Alonso will return to Renault in 2021

Back to the future for the Losange. Fernando Alonso will take the path ofenstone (United Kingdom) and Viry-Châtillon (Essonne) for the 3rd time in his long and rich career.

Renault made official this Wednesday the return of the man who helped the Losange to win the two Manufacturers' titles on its record as a manufacturer, in addition to winning a pair of world crowns among the Drivers (2005-2006).

OFFICIAL NEWS

Fernando Alonso joins Renault DP World F1 Team
Renault DP World F1 Team is pleased to confirm Fernando Alonso alongside Esteban Ocon in its driver line-up for the 2021 season.

https://t.co/yjnnGHh8Yb #RSspirit @alo_oficial @OconEsteban pic.twitter.com/Qe0WfBazzN

- Renault F1 Team (@ RenaultF1Team) July 8, 2020

After the loss of Daniel Ricciardo, heading to McLaren, it's another nice blow on the transfer window signed Cyril Abiteboul. But the bet is not without risk.

Already because Alonso is no longer the 20-year-old who arrived at Renault to build his legend. In 2021, he will not have driven in Formula 1 for 2 years. We remember the mixed comeback of Michael Schumacher with Mercedes after a break of 3 seasons, even if the Spaniard has not been idle since his first F1 retirement.

Forced to spend 2019 on the bench, his new teammate Esteban Ocon nevertheless recognized last Sunday in Austria to what extent this season on the sidelines had had an impact on his return to competition.

Then, the stormy and complex personality of the proud Iberian has often been singled out to explain the unease that may have reigned in the stables where Alonso visited, including in WEC with Toyota.  

One of his former bosses, however, always defended his former driver to us by affirming that the native of Oviedo was a fierce and uncompromising competitor. Hence a clear frustration when the material did not live up to his expectations and his talent. And this was often the case after his departure from Enstone at the end of 2006.

Remarriage for reasons?

After years of battling in the middle of the grid with McLaren, Alonso appeared exhausted and not unhappy to leave the Grand Prix scene on the evening of Abu Dhabi in 2018. Will he agree to settle for runners-up at almost 40 years old? Because Renault is not ready to compete for podiums regularly in 2021 after the technical revolution was postponed for one year.

In those around Losange, we are assured that “Fernand” is fully aware of the reality on the ground and that he returns calm and serene. “He has changed and wants to live a beautiful story again” with the French manufacturer, we were told.

Finally, we can wonder about the consequences of Alonso's return on Ocon's place and status in the French team. We will remember that the Spaniard made short work of Stoffel Vandoorne at McLaren in 2017-2018, pushing the Belgian towards the exit.

Now, Renault could not afford to wait until the end of the season Formula 2 to see if the young shoots of the Academy Guanyu-Zhou and Christian Lundgaard were going to obtain their Super License.

Attractive on paper, the candidacy of Sebastian Vettel was unlikely from the start even if contact would have taken place. As for a return of Nico Hulkenberg : what message would the Losange have sent by recalling a pilot removed in favor of Ocon?

The option remained Valtteri Bottas, whose contract with Mercedes expires at the end of 2020. Brilliant winner of the first Grand Prix of the year, the Finn has often repeated that he wants to be a long-term contract, which is only extended by one year every 12 months by the Étoile firm.

The only flaw in Bottas' candidacy is undoubtedly his less sexy image where Alonso is certain to generate good media coverage. Renault just hopes the story doesn't turn sour.