Alonso to demo title-winning Renault R25 F1 car in Abu Dhabi
Fernando Alonso will demonstrate his title-winning R25 Formula 1 car across the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend as part of a Renault celebration ahead of its 2021 rebrand.
The two-time world champion will be reunited with the car that powered him to the first of back-to-back titles with Renault in 2005 when he drives it on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Yas Marina Circuit on the weekend of the season-ending Abu Dhabi finale.
As well as celebrating Alonso’s return to F1 next season, the demonstration event will also act as a nod to the French manufacturer’s heritage in what will be the Enstone outfit’s final race under the Renault badge before it rebrands to sister brand Alpine in 2021.
Alonso and teammate Giancarlo Fisichello claimed eight victories and 18 podiums across the 19-round 2005 season in the unmistaken yellow and blue R25, which has been restored to its former glory in a remarkable effort carried out across Renault’s factories in Enstone and Viry.
More than 50 hours of engine revision across two weeks at Viry were required alongside German specialists Renwerk Company to pull off the rebuild ahead of an initial shakedown run at the La Ferte Gaucher circuit just outside Paris in November.
Alonso’s demonstration run was originally meant to be held at the 2020 French Grand Prix but the plans were postponed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s very emotional to see the R25 run in anger once again, and having Fernando at the wheel is the cherry on the cake. The car-driver partnership was a classic time in F1 and remains one of Renault’s proudest achievements in motorsport,” said Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul.
“While the car is a symbol of our past achievements, Fernando reflects our strong ambition to keep pushing for more success and recapture those incredible moments and emotions. Of course, any results will now be under the Alpine name but our future success will all be homage to this amazing time in Renault’s F1 history.”
Alonso will partner Esteban Ocon for the team’s new incarnation as Alpine in 2021.
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