Renault poised to announce Fernando Alonso return for 2021 F1 season
Fernando Alonso is set to confirm a sensational return to F1 next season after agreeing a deal that will see hi re-join the Renault F1 Team he won his two World Championship titles with.
A story that has developed behind the scenes over the course of the day, this morning there were murmurings Alonso had not only already signed o the dotted line but that an announcement is being readied for tomorrow [Wednesday 7 July]. By this afternoon it is is out there, albeit unofficial for the time being.
Indeed, though Renault itself is yet to formally confirm it, the BBC – which has leaked the story - says it has been confirmed by three different sources.
Alonso would come to Renault having not started an F1 race since the 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when he and McLaren Racing parted ways. Despite the prolonged hiatus, Alonso remains one of the most experienced and successful drivers in the sport, notching up 32 wins ands 311 GP starts.
For 2021 Alonso returns to the team that gave him his big break in the sport in 2003 when was signed from Minardi, the 38-year old going on to end Michael Schumacher’s streak of title wins to triumph in 2005 and 2006. This will be his third period at the French firm having also squeezed in another two years between his McLaren and Ferrari stints.
Alonso’s arrival marks a huge boost for the flagging Renault team, which was left reeling in the wake of star signing Daniel Ricciardo announcing he would be quitting for McLaren at the end of the year.
Though it was initially feared the decision to delay the new concept technical regulations to 2022 would scupper Renault’s hopes of luring Alonso for 2021, he will now get one final hurrah with this generation of chassis before playing an integral role in developing the new machine.
