Abiteboul: “Alonso’s return is not a lack of interest in our academy”

By calling again in the services of Fernando Alonso to accompany Esteban Ocon in 2021, Renault decided to reconnect with its glorious past. After all, the Spaniard is the only driver who allowed the French brand to win two world titles (2005 and 2006).

However, the decision to rehire a 39-year-old driver, as talented and legendary as he is, raises the question of the team's interest in its junior program, the Renault Sport Academy.

“This is an important question, admitted Cyril Abiteboul, boss of Renault Sport Racing during a press conference. I expect our decision to hire Fernando to be seen as a lack of interest and loyalty to our own Renault Sport Academy project. But it's not, I want to be very clear that it's not. »

Ultimately, the question is not so much whether Guanyu-Zhou or Christian Lundgaard, the two headliners of the RSA, more deserved the seat offered to Fernando Alonso. It is simply the timing of the decision that is striking, as neither have had the opportunity to prove themselves after a single meeting this year. But Cyril Abiteboul assumes.

“The academy’s plan was to have a pilot able to join the F1 in 2021, continues the French official. And who knows, that might be the case.

But let's face it, the crisis has had several severe impacts, and one of them is the delay in the start of the season, and the delay in our ability to judge the performances of the two oldest members of the team. academy, Guanyu Zhou and Christian Lundgaard. »

The situation is all the more infuriating for the two elders of the Renault Sport Academy as the Chinese was the fastest in the field in Austria last weekend, until a mechanical problem caused him to lose the lead in the main race, after having claimed pole with authority.

The Dane, younger, had a promising start, signing two top 5s without having done the slightest spin before. “Both had a very good weekend in Austria, analyzes the boss of the French team, before showing them his confidence.

We are very serious about the Academy, very serious about these two drivers, and the plan remains to see how they can join F1. I am sure that Fernando and Esteban will also be able to contribute to their development. » It would be a lesser evil.