Fernando Alonso, Toyota Hilux Dakar test, 2019

Official: Alonso to return to Formula 1 with Renault next year

2021 F1 season

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Two-times Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso will return to the sport next year, driving for the team he won both his world championships with.

Renault has confirmed Alonso, who will be 39 at the beginning of the 2021 F1 season, is to take the seat Daniel Ricciardo will vacate at the end of the year. Alonso will team up with Esteban Ocon.

Alonso has added the World Endurance Championship title and a second Le Mans 24 Hours victory to his successes since leaving F1 at the end of 2018.

RaceFans understands he has accepted a significant cut in earnings compared to his previous F1 salaries. Alonso is believed to have agreed a two-year deal to drive for the team.

Renault represents Alonso’s best opportunity to return to the sport with a manufacturer team. Ferrari have filled their seats for next year and Mercedes have previously indicated their reluctance to reunite with the driver who was powered by their engines during his spell at McLaren in 2007.

“Renault is my family, my fondest memories in Formula 1 with my two world championship titles, but I’m now looking ahead,” said Alonso.

“It’s a great source of pride and with an immense emotion I’m returning to the team that gave me my chance at the start of my career and which now gives me the opportunity to return to the highest level. I have principles and ambitions in line with the team’s project.

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“Their progress this winter gives credibility to the objectives for the 2022 season and I will share all my racing experience with everyone from the engineers to the mechanics and my team-mates. The team wants and has the means to get back on the podium, as do I.”

The team’s managing director Cyril Abiteboul said the decision to hire Alonso shows the team’s “plan to continue its commitment to F1 and to return to the top of the field.”

“His presence in our team is a formidable asset on the sporting level but also for the brand to which he is very attached,” Abiteboul continued. “The strength of the bond between him, the team and the fans make him a natural choice.

“In addition to past successes, it is a bold mutual choice as well as a project for the future. His experience and determination will enable us to get the best out of each other to take the team towards the excellence that modern Formula 1 demands.

“He will also bring to our team, which has grown very fast, a culture of racing and winning to overcome hurdles together. Alongside Esteban, his mission will be to help Renault DP World F1 Team prepare for the 2022 season in the best possible conditions.”

Formula 1 chairman and CEO Chase Carey said Alonso’s return is “great news” for the sport. “He is an incredible talent and we can’t wait to have him back on the grid in 2021.”

View the current list of 2021 F1 drivers and teams

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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103 comments on “Official: Alonso to return to Formula 1 with Renault next year”

  1. Feel bad for Guanyu, Aitken and Artem, I wanted to see one of them in a F1 car, specially the Chinese. This is a move where the sport wins more than Alonso itself. I’m sure Liberty was in all this thing. Let’s see how Renault performs with the regulation changes, but with a man like Abiteboul leading the team I don’t expect too much.

    1. True but what Liberty needs to happen is Alonso to have some decent results but more importantly for the long term, the likes of Max, Leclerc, Norris, Russel, Albon to get wins to generate a larger fan base for them to become the next Alonsos.

    2. While I do rate Guanyu Zhou and Christian Lundgaard, I do sense that if any Renault Academy driver was going to get a drive at the works team it would have been Anthoine Hubert. Based off of his form in GP3 and Formula 2, I think the potential was there for him to develop into a an extremely competitive and well-rounded F1 driver. As events transpired, we will never know what might have become of him.

      What we do know is that Alonso and Renault both want to win again in Formula 1, and I think both of them probably need the other in equal proportion. They can only really go forwards as things stand and I wish them the best.

    3. Aitken and Markelov already split from their junior program. Aitken is the Williams reserve driver.

      Zhou and Lundgaard are the highest placed juniors in F2, but both need at least P4 or 5 to be eligible for a super licence.

      1. Is Lundgard a Renault driver? I thought he was a Red Bull driver.

    4. Why would you feel bad for drivers, who achieved nothing? What have they done to deserve F1 seat?

      1. It’s about talent, not results.

  2. Sad that Hulkenberg didn’t get the seat. Let’s hope the 2022 car is competitive, but I doubt it.

    1. Can someone explain why Hulkenberg’s name keeps cropping up here on this site? The guy is the king of mediocrity. Why would any team hire him?

      1. He has a record against Ricciardo. Watch this season and you’ll be able to tell if he is better or worse than Ocon.

      2. +1

        He showed promise early in his career but fizzled out big time. No wins, 1 pole, 2 fast laps, no podiums. I don’t even need to put Alonso’s stats up. Fisichella might be a better comparison but even Fisi had 3 wins.

        1. He showed promise early in his career but fizzled out big time

          Just to be clear, is that Hulkenberg you’re talking about or Alonso?

  3. “GP2 engine!!”

    1. OmarRoncal - Go Seb!!! (@)
      8th July 2020, 15:56

      “Gp2 car”

      1. “What you mean? We take every corner on circuit flat-out! Bring me deck chair. Now!”

  4. Renault better get rid of Cyril.

    1. Michael (@freelittlebirds)
      8th July 2020, 14:07

      I think they should keep him around in some capacity as he was pretty entertaining in Netflix’s Drive to Survive!

      You’re out an engine and you’re short a driver!

      Horner’s look was priceless.

    2. I feel like he’s toxic but what I see is only on the surface.

  5. Between Abiteboul, Ocon and Alonso, Renault has the perfect triumvirate of people whose fault it never is, for whom the fault always lies elsewhere. This might be fun.

    1. Nah, to maximize that, they would need to sign Vettel asap. There hasn’t been another driver that comes even close to blaming others for their own mistakes.

      1. Actually Vettel is by far the driver who accepts blame and owns up to his mistakes more than anyone. You’re just delusional from all your hate for the guy.

        1. F1oSaurus (@)
          8th July 2020, 13:29

          Ha, ha, ha, ha you are hilarious.

          1. Explain…
            Show me examples please of Vettel blaming others.

          2. kuvemar @f1osaurus

            Vettel – Austria 2020 – commenting after Ferrari didn’t deliver a good car…and one month after the team told him that he’s out at the end of the season:

            Asked whether he believes the team can close the 0.6-second gap to Mercedes they had in second practice, Vettel said: “Well right now, no. But it’s up to us to obviously develop and work so that the car gets faster. That’s what we have to do.

            Alonso – Hungary 2013 – commenting after Ferrari didn’t deliver a good car…and not even on his last season with the team:

            After the Budapest race the Spaniard was asked what he wanted for his 32nd birthday and replied : someone else’s car.

            Vettel & Hamilton – Hungary 2013 – commenting on their races and how would they rate themselves:

            Q) Now the summer break has started, the first part of the season is over so could you please rate your own performance from one to ten, one is the worst, ten is the best and explain briefly why you give yourself that mark?
            A)-Vettel: “Five, not happy with the first half. I think I struggled here and there to really get on top of the car. I think we’ve been trying a lot of things so fair enough. Obviously we wanted to squeeze out more so you’re always looking for more but I feel I can do a better job in the second half. And five is my number, so take five.”
            -Hamilton: “So that’s the first half of the season, yeah? I’d say like 8.9, 8.8.”
            -Vettel: “Go ten, man. Go for it, who cares?”
            -Hamilton: “If it wasn’t for the last one, the last race, it would be a little bit higher. I think the good thing is always to score yourself a little bit lower so you’ve more to work on. For sure, it’s been the best start of the season that I think we’ve ever had as a team and I think it’s one of the best seasons that I’ve had personally to start off, but there are areas that we can continue to work on.”

            Alonso – Azerbaijan 2018 – commenting on his race:

            Fernando Alonso described the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as one of his best races after salvaging seventh place with a damaged car: “P7 is an unbelievable result, probably one of the best races I ever done.”

            Alonso – Canada 2018 – commenting on how would he rate himself:

            “I am one of the best to have raced in F1,” the Spaniard said. “I am probably not fastest in qualifying, or the wet, but I am 9.5 in all areas.”

            Alonso – sometime after he retired in 2019 – again commenting on how would he rate himself:

            But, asked by Crash.net what motivates him to continue, Alonso said: “To be the best driver in the world, which I think I am.”

            You were saying…?

          3. F1oSaurus (@)
            12th July 2020, 21:35

            Initially
            What do you mean “show examples” Have you watched any F1 race since 2009?
            Every time Vettel crashes into someone he blames the other driver. Only after he talked to the PR people does he, on a very rare occasions, do the PR thing and pretend to take some of blame.

            He blamed Webber for Turkey 2010! He blamed Hamilton for Monza 2018. He even blamed Verstappen for Silverstone 2019!!!!! He blamed everybody for ruining his own race in Canada 2019. He blamed Leclerc for crashing into him in Brazil (WHile LEclerc was clearly driving straight and Vettel clearly suddenly veered left). It goes on and on and on. EVERY crash he blames on someone but himself.

            @black I’m not sure what you are trying to prove with Vettel throwing Ferrari under the bus for not delivering a good enough car? How is that him taking the blame for his mistakes? It’s even the opposite of that because Vettel himself was beyond poor that race. Leclerc got P2 with the same car.

            Also what does Alonso saying he’s the best driver have to do with anything? Why do you waste your time on that nonsense? Non of it is relevant.

        2. Michael (@freelittlebirds)
          8th July 2020, 16:17

          Actually, both of you happen to be right. Vettel won’t accept blame during the race as we’ve seen during the Multi-21, Baku brake-test, Canada 2019, Mexico 2018? etc.

          However, once he cools down he is able to see whether his reaction was the right one and whether he was to blame and also if he should have done something else.

          While this introspective analysis benefits him, it has to be tempered as it can affect self-confidence. Every competitor has to analyze their performance objectively but maintain a positive attitude that they are capable of doing much better.

          Self-confidence which Alonso has no shortage of and could probably lend Vettel is necessary for a champion but it has to be tempered confidence, otherwise you risk driving like Maldonado, Kvyat, and Albon who have too much self-confidence and that confidence converts to a string of disasters for the driver.

          1. F1oSaurus (@)
            12th July 2020, 21:38

            @freelittlebirds Yeah that doesn’t count really. Besides he still blamed Hamilton for brake testing after he was out of the car. He still blamed everybody for ruining his own race in Canada. He still blamed Webb for Turkey 2010. Or Mexico 2018.

            The only example I can remember that he admitted some of the blame was Silverstone 2019

      2. Surely you forgot Max Vertappen…

    2. True. Hahaha.

    3. (@hahostolze) Definitely going to be fun I reckon ;)

    4. Michael (@freelittlebirds)
      8th July 2020, 14:08

      Best joke! Priceless, I was in tears :-)

    5. lol, indeed!

    6. Couldnt agree more. This is going to be hilareous

  6. Alonso and Abiteboul: A match made in heaven.

    1. At last renault have someone capable of showing the door to to him!

    2. Michael (@freelittlebirds)
      8th July 2020, 14:05

      @paulk P10 is guaranteed!!!

  7. Yoke of the year..

  8. Don’t get me wrong Alonso is one of the best but i think his time in F1 is over… He should continue looking for other challenges but now that this is already confirmed i preffer him than a pay driver

  9. Say what you want about Cyril. He always manages to land top drawer drivers. Hulkenburg, Ricciardo and now Alonso.

    1. Michael (@freelittlebirds)
      8th July 2020, 14:11

      That’s mostly because there’s no other place for them to go to. They would all have gone to better teams if they could have. Ricciardo was very smart to switch as it was going to end his career just like Hulkenberg’s.

      If you want to end your career then drive with Renault. They’re all goners and one was good enough to drive for Ferrari (Sainz).

    2. How are Hulkenberg and Ricciardo suddenly top drivers? No WDC between them

  10. Dutchguy (@justarandomdutchguy)
    8th July 2020, 12:23

    even when the results inevitably won’t be, at least the memes will be good

  11. F1 is in such a great place right now. A great bunch of super talented youngsters (Leclerc, Albon, Verstappen, Russel, Sainz, Norris) all of whom are World Champ material pitted against legendary stalwarts (Alonso and Hamilton).

    I can’t wait!

  12. Adam (@rocketpanda)
    8th July 2020, 12:24

    Who’d have thought Alonso would have a drive and Vettel doesn’t?

    Still really don’t get why he’s bothering to come back at all. It feels like Renault loudly shouting “we’re a front running team! look at our star drivers!” while driving around for 8th/9th.

    1. @rocketpanda

      “we’re a front running team! look at our star drivers!”

      +1 Yep,This sounds like it. Because really, pretty much everyone in the Motoring world has heard of Alonso..& now returning to Renault, it’s an great PR move. On Monday mornings the average Joe Blow won’t know where he’s finished, but they probably will remember that Renault are associated with him.
      I too don’t think he should return,some of Jensen’s last races were hard to watch.

    2. Thats exactly what Renault is doing. Delivering proof by window dressing rather than building the right car/engine.

  13. I’m interested to see how negative the response is to this – certainly a lot more negative than I was expecting anyway, hardly anyone seems to be excited by this.

    But I suppose as fans we’d all gotten excited about Schumacher coming out of retirement, or McLaren’s romantic Honda reunion, or Kubica’s long-awaited comeback. By now we’re just preconditioned to expect nothing but disappointment from this sort of thing.

    1. @jackysteeg

      But I suppose as fans we’d all gotten excited about Schumacher coming out of retirement, or McLaren’s romantic Honda reunion, or Kubica’s long-awaited comeback. By now we’re just preconditioned to expect nothing but disappointment from this sort of thing.

      Agree. The dream returns have never materialised. However, out of all the examples you’ve mentioned above, Alonso returning probably won’t will fail as badly as the other dream returns did.

    2. Jose Lopes da Silva
      8th July 2020, 12:45

      I was very excited about Schumacher coming out of retirement and I was never his fan. I think you’re quite right.
      More: I think Schumacher comeback was a success, although no one considers it because everyone – starting with himself – was expecting him to be at the same level. If you look at stats of drivers 40 years old an above since 1970, you’ll see that Schumacher was quite above what anything other achieved. Even if Mansell won a grand prix after being 40 years old and Schumacher didn’t. (Mansell only won it because Schumacher helped.)

      I think Alonso could match and better the consistency and level of results that Schumacher achieved during those 3 seasons. He has an advantage over Schumacher: the technical formula hasn’t changed much since he retired. He is used to tyre monopoly and managing tyres and etc. Schumacher and Raikkonen never looked as fast as before 2007, but Alonso adapted very good to that, even if titles did not came.

      I’m not expecting him nor Renault to be champion, even in 2022. But he’s probably gambling on a Brawn moment. Let’s see.

    3. I am a little surprised how the negativity is all focused on Renault – to my mind they are taking a huge risk. if their car is poor next year (likely because the chassis freeze), there’s a big change alonso will decide he’s bored and sack it off before they have a change to exploit the new regs. the low risk strategy would have been to hire a promising junior, give them a year to learn the ropes (2021 is surely a throwaway year for many teams) and be ready for 2022. furthermore, Ocon – who has shown some promise in the past – is far more likely to grow into a true team leader without alonso destabilising the team.

      I’m a big fan of alonso, but i feel he’s trading solely off his reputation to get this drive. it seems like an odd decision from renault.

      1. @frood19
        Alonso is betting it all on Renault doing a ‘Brawn’ in 2022. 2021 is going to be a ‘getting up to speed’ with F1 in general for him. I don’t think he has any hopes for 2021 other than accomplishing pretty much what Renault accomplish this year. But if 2022 comes and Renault are not up there (very likely), or Ocon beats him, then it might turn ugly for the team and for his reputation.
        Renault on the other hand at this moment will mostly get good PR of the type “look we brought a champion to driver for us – we are a top team (they aren’t)” and Alonso is good marketing-wise at the moment…but if you look at all of his past teams, they didn’t exactly part on good terms. It may look good at the moment but if they fail to deliver, their name would be dragged throught the mud and they might even decide to pull the plug.
        As for F1, it’s good PR at the moment, especially if we consider that Hamilton will be the only WDC on the grid next year when in 2012 we had 6!, i think Liberty might have pushed for this comeback to happen…but in the long term it would do more damage than good if it doesn’t work and it would deprive the chance of a F1 drive to a young talented driver that has all his future ahead of him.

        So a very risky move from all parties, everyone involed will be happy…if it Renault-Alonso deliver a championship (unlikely). But if they don’t (most likely), everyone will suffer big time.

    4. Well in all fairness to this particular case, we are talking about Alonso (=superfast but toxic) and Abiteboul/Renault (= slow and toxic). So, it has a background and reason the sentiment and expectations aren’t good. It is going to deliver some nice entertainment though. Imagine being Ocon (= probably quite fast but also a questionnable character given how he deliberately provoked Max… proving he is not a Bottas kind of personality); he still needs to prove his worth. So he will add to the toxicity. Fireworks to come! But not in terms of race results.

  14. Regardless if this move makes sense or not. This excites me. Cant wait to see what he can do.

  15. *facepalm*

    Moaner is back!

    And shows once again that he makes poor decisions. Ever and ever again

    1. That’s a certainty

  16. I’m looking forward to the drama. The Drive to Survive series should just embed a team into Renault permanently. That will probably give enough material to fill half the series.

    1. Michael (@freelittlebirds)
      8th July 2020, 14:14

      @aapje yes, they could have their offshoot series like CSI Miami :-) Drive To Survive – Renault.

      Although without a doubt Red Bull would be the best if they allowed Netflix to follow the team more closely. That could easily give more publicity for Red Bull than the F1 team does.

  17. Just for Context: This is like Niki Lauda doing a comeback in 1991. Or Emerson Fittipaldi coming back to the sport in 1990.
    Or Mika Häkkinen in 2011. Or Senna in 2004. Or Kimi in, well, 2021. jeeeez.

    1. Its weird, nobody said a thing when Mansell won his championship at age 39, and then the indycar title at age 40, or Michael Schumacher getting pole at Monaco age 43, Fangio winning his 5th title at 46, or Damon winning in ’99 age 39, Mario getting pole at Monza in the ridiculous ground effect cars at age 42, or even still being competitive at the Indy500 until age 53 (and then one last attempt in 2003 at age 63!!!) F1 isnt football, there is not a cut off point where fitness and talent falls off a cliff. Fighter pilots in the military can go all the way up to age 65. So just because a driver gets to the age 36-39, doesnt mean that they are ‘too old for F1’. Its just utter nonsense! Its not age that effects drivers, its responsibilities. Once you get married and have children priorities change in a person (maybe this would explain the last few years for Seb Vettel) And saying that the seat should have gone to a younger prospect……. well if that younger prospect was better than Fernando then they would be in the seat, and if they are young (and most importantly GOOD ENOUGH) then there is plenty of time to get into F1.

      1. Well searched (and quite inspirational) comment… I’ll also add Valentino Rossi currently 41 performing very well in motogp

        1. Being a manx resident, the biggest example that saying the drivers responses and eye sight will tail off around the age 40 is utter nonsense is the TT, the most dangerous motorsport in the world. 1 slow reaction, 1 miss-judgement and its game over. Next year John McGuinness will 49, and you can bet your bottom dollar he will be fighting for the win. Joey Dunlop, the greatest of them all won the top class (world superbike class) in 2000 age 48. Throwing that bike around at 180mph on public roads for 2 hours is a much more physically demanding than being strapped into an F1 car. So it is a myth that F1 drivers (and especially ones of Alonso’s talent) couldn’t drive in F1 and indycar until their late 40’s and still be competitive.

          1. It would be interesting to see some analysis on the loads on the body between motorbikes and F1 as while motorbikes seem like they would be more physical, they’re actually under significantly less g force. It’s pretty clear that reflexes and fitness do decline over time but experience offsets some of those losses. If the talent is that good though it maybe despite a decline in performance they could compete but they wouldn’t be at the same level they used to be. I don’t believe any driver can drive modern F1 cars into their late 40’s and be competitive though imo.

      2. +1 I second Ipsom, nicely researched comment.
        Actually I really like the combination of ‘new’ highly talented drivers like Leclerc, Norris and Russel, ‘middle aged’ drivers like Verstappen (ed: that may be a joke), and still talented ‘elder’ drivers like Hamilton and now Alonso again. (Sorry, Raikkonen is totally anonymous, as he was in his later Ferrari career.) Formula 1 not only has an amazing roster of talent, it has a full spectrum of canny experience and youthful exuberance. I’m not sure there’s ever been such a competitive grid.

      3. Very valid point Gubstar, I still do find it remarkable however that drivers can be competitive at such ages, but yes, Damon was two years older than I am when he won the world title, so there’s time for me yet.

    2. Well, just to come back to some of the points made a) i was obviously going by carreer-length and not age and b) i think you can not ignore with all the examples given by Gubstar that those examples happened at a time were Drivers were quite a bit older in general, and also, driving was less ‘proffessional’ in a way.

  18. Very well. It’s done.
    In the short term, everyone who loves F1, we all win, (including Alonso, talk about 10 million a year!).
    Certainty More show, more tension and passion, more stories to enjoy and keep in mind. Great moments that make F1 what we love so much.
    In times of great uncertainty, we cannot wait long to see how things go. It is better to enjoy every moment, “carpe diem” more than ever.
    For all this, very welcome, Fernando Alonso.

    1. tony mansell
      8th July 2020, 13:59

      Yes maybe Nico will come back as well. Webber was always good copy and Montoya, what a daredevil he WAS.

      1. With all due respect, but compare with Alonso, Nico, Webber and Montoya !!!

  19. Jose Lopes da Silva
    8th July 2020, 12:37

    I remember when Renault said, between 2016 and 2017, that they were not interested in past champions because they were focusing on the future and wanted to hire the F1 champion of 2020.

    1. Well.. They want to hire Lewis?

      1. @todfod
        Or maybe Bottas ?

        1. Or maybe Russell?…they didn’t specify if they meant the actual-racing F1 champ or the virtual one :P

    2. I guess they realised that did not work out for them. Must say I am sort of happy to see Alonso get back on the grid. Clearly he was not yet ready to stop with F1. Sure, it would be nice to see him in a car that can actually win.
      But I think the Renault can be at about the level of McLaren currently, or Racing Point. Arguably almost level with Ferrari too ;-). And all o those cars seem to at least be in with a throw of making it harder on the top teams and fighting for the odd podium.
      If we can get a driver like Alonso in that mid field, that will only make the racing more intense.

      1. Jose Lopes da Silva
        8th July 2020, 12:53

        I can’t but agree (although Alonso wouldn’t have been champion in these last seasons with Renault, nor this year.) F1 should have the best drivers available. We have strong reasons to believe Alonso is still among them and in that way it’s good to have him back.

  20. I can’t wait to see Fernando racing full throttle and taking some of the current F1 drivers to the school again.

    1. I absolutely agree with that. He didn’t leave cause he was slow. And he takes no prisoners. He’s still a great driver as far as I am concerned. And I am a fan. So I wish him good luck.

  21. Well if they were looking a replacement for Ricciardo there are only a handfull of better drivers than Alonso.
    It is interesting to see how these years have affected to Alonso and his driving.
    One thing is sure that he still has the hunger to win another championship but is Renault ready for it?

    Still this got me thinking there is a problem with F1’s young driver programme if a 39 year old is better option than a possible future star.

    F1 needs new teams/seats but that is a different problem.

    1. Jose Lopes da Silva
      8th July 2020, 12:58

      We have an average age of future stars quite low: Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris, Sainz, Russell.
      We know that Alonso is likely faster than Hulkenberg. And faster than Lundgaard. He is an F1 legend, not a regular 39 year old…
      “It is interesting to see how these years have affected to Alonso and his driving.” Indeed!

      The problem with F1 is that Lance Stroll is riding the 3rd/4th fastest car. There are a ton of drivers, including Alonso, who should be in it. But yes, “F1 needs new teams/seats but that is a different problem”.

      1. Stroll really shouldn’t be driving that Racing Point but maybe without Stroll there would be one team less than there is now.

        There are many other drivers that should be next to Checo but still there was a possibility that there would not be Racing Point at all without Stroll’s money so it is a difficult situation.

        1. Jose Lopes da Silva
          8th July 2020, 15:07

          “without Stroll there would be one team less than there is now.”

          100% agreed.

          That’s a big, big problem for Formula One.

      2. Just AlphaTauri left and it’s gone full circle haha

  22. Once, twice, three times a Renault! Good luck to him.

  23. Jelle van der Meer (@)
    8th July 2020, 13:27

    Alonso returned to Renault before and except for winning Singapore due to Crashgate didn’t bring Renault any benefit – same as Ricciardo didn’t bring them any benefit.

    That is not down to the drivers but down to Renault’s engine and aero department and most of all due to the horrible leadership of Cyril Abiteboul. The guy is at Renault for a long time, has been spending a lot of money, has be promising everything, burned bridges but delivered nothing.

    1. To be fair they won the race after Singapore 2008 (Japan?) As well

  24. This is an important time for Ocon. He’s going to have to work hard to get on top of the car, and also to help keep the team behind him so that it doesn’t become “Alonso’s team”. How he fares against Alonso will probably define how long he stays in F1. He’s got some serious groundwork to do, and it has to start right now.

  25. Fully expected after yesterday’s reports.

  26. tony mansell
    8th July 2020, 13:56

    Smacks of what happens ( and destroys) boxing whereby the big name has been gets a go because he brings in the dollars. If as is rumoured Liberty has brokered this deal then we will only see further blocking off of seats by the Kimi’s and Alonso’s for young fresh exiting talent that don’t have the cache or the draw. Short termism at its worst.

  27. It’s quite intriguing why he came back with Renault and not mclaren…
    Does he think Renault will be more competitive?
    Did mclaren choose ricciardo over alonso?
    Did he decide to come back after the driver transfers happened?

    If there’s any journalist at the paddock here please don’t hesitate to ask these!

    1. Jose Lopes da Silva
      8th July 2020, 17:50

      “Did mclaren choose ricciardo over alonso?”
      McLaren and Alonso have part ways some time ago. Anyway, if they had any interest in having him, they could have asked him.
      So yes, they preferred Ricciardo over Alonso, as would most teams of the field.
      Unless we believe that Alonso had been contacted by McLaren and turned them down to go to Renault. Who knows. Doesn’t seem likely, though.

  28. Abiteboul and Alonso, hahaha, what a match made in excuse-heaven!

    I suppose Cyril is not a very good student when it comes to studying history, or other people. He instead opts to learn from experience; and he will now fully experience the diva-crybaby that is Fernando Alonso, and his Ego. The same Alonso that Todt and Horner publicly denied ever willing to hire into their teams, and then went on to get the boot print slapped on his cheeks by McLaren and Ferrari.

    2021 will be Renault’s last season in Formula 1 as a manufacturer and I predict they will axe the engine program aswell.

  29. Craig Simons
    8th July 2020, 16:50

    Well…looks like I’ve got a hat to eat! :O

  30. There is an aspect that has not yet been mentioned.
    In the past, Ferrari was happy to say that they sold cars so they could race. In the case of Renault, they race to sell cars. Same for all the other manufacturer’s on the grid. F1 is entertainment and marketing / promotion.
    Having Alonso will help sell cars (and trucks) in Europe and most markets except North America. Overall likely a good move for Renault.
    Ball is clearly in their garage to deliver something other than a GP-2. Will it be their last season as “Cranberry” contends? Hope not, but in a way I agree, there is an element of inevitability to the idea.
    2021 is gonna be GREAT to watch. Can’t wait.

    1. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a fan of a big manufacturer leaving, but how long can Renault go from failure to failure and keep paying for the privilege? Next year we will have Aston Martin after all and hopefully some day BMW and a sertain large Japanese manufacturer could see a return to F1 as a team.

      I just hope “Team Enstone” survives. Perhaps Porsche is rubbing their hands in the background, waiting for a buying opportunity?

  31. The crazy thing is that now McLaren look to be the most competitive midfield team and he just left them..

    Anyway, I’m of course well stoked he’s back. Just a shame it’s not a top car.

    Let’s see how far up his 0.6 sec can bring Renault. Motivation at the team will be sky high.

    Already feel sorry for the poor team mate whose career he will likely ruin.

  32. Prediction time…

    Ferrari will improve, but never be more that 3rd fastest car at any point of the season, regularly at various events being behind Racing Point, McLaren and occasionally even a Renault.

    Vettel, mid way through the season will slump into no longer giving a damn through not being in a position to win and finding himself cast aside from info as he goes towards the exit door, and not wanting to end his career there through the back door as a 4 time world champion being a number 2 to a young driver, will walk early.

    Ferrari will approach Sainz, who will make noises about wanting to see out the year at McLaren, they’ll then flirt with the idea of throwing Giovinazzi in for a few races or maybe even look to call up Kimi for the final few rounds before he officially retires, but ultimately Sainz will more likely make the move to Ferrari early and get a few rounds in red under his belt, to get settled in ahead of next year.

    McLaren will then approach Renault about Ricciardo, who will probably be dropped off in Woking by Abietboul himself such is clear anger of DR agreeing to join McLaren over staying.

    Alonso will be in the Renault for a few rounds this season to get back up to speed ahead of 2021.

  33. NeverElectric
    8th July 2020, 20:37

    What now for Vettel? Where does he go? I had thought Renault presented a possibility for him, but that door seems to have been shut with this announcement.
    Will Vettel replace a (possibly) retiring Kimi at Alfa Romeo?

  34. Yikes…. the biggest whiner and complainer returns. I had hoped this would never happen…

  35. Best team radio moments… here I come :)

  36. Please, please, pretty please, bring back those Michelins!!

  37. A first tier driver returns to the field, which is always great. Though, along with the drama and overplaying, which is lame.
    Whoever concerned about his form, I don’t think it’s gonna be an issue: Nandito is one of the most adaptable drivers there is. Yes, he may be in for a really dreary time, but he is already familiar to it. Not to mention he is rested, which means he can endure things revigorated.

    However, I’m afraid his persona won’t remain tender shall Renault keeps stagnant. Cyril better be prepared. Poor Ocon is dead meat already.

  38. I don’t care what the pros and cons are, I’m just thrilled to have Alonso back in F1. Is it a good decision on his part? I doubt it very much and I don’t think he’ll see out his whole contract – if it is indeed 2 years – because I suspect the car is going to be very midfield for a long time to come. Is it a good decision on Renault’s part? I doubt it because when Alonso is not happy, Alonso very publicly complains, and this is going to be extremely embarrassing for them. But I don’t care. I am so stoked to have him back in the paddock and on the grid! Character-wise, I don’t really like him or dislike him. But what a pure racer he is. Big smiles!!

  39. Two more years of dissing drivers! XD

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