Renault plan to give Fernando Alonso an opportunity to drive one of their Formula 1 cars this year.
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The team’s managing director Cyril Abiteboul said they are working on ways to get the two-time world champion back behind the wheel before his race return in the 2021 F1 season. Options being considered include a filming day in the 2020 car or running Alonso in one of the team’s two-year-old chassis to give him valuable seat time.
Alonso visited Renault’s Enstone and Viry-Châtillon facilities this week and completed a session in their simulator as part of his preparations. Abiteboul said the Spaniard was “happy to be back” at the team where he won his world titles in 2005 and 2006.
“He’s definitely keen on getting back behind the steering wheel,” Abiteboul said. “We see that and we are building the programme.
“There are a couple of opportunities, obviously within the restrictions of the sporting regulations, things like filming days that we haven’t done so far. There is a post-season test that I have already commented on — we will see when we get there.”
Another route for Alonso to gain track time would be to run a 2018 car, Abiteboul added. “We also have a two-year-old car programme that we can run pretty much anywhere and we would probably do a bit of that also. So you’ll see him in action. I can’t say exactly where and when yet.”
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Abiteboul was unable to join Alonso at Enstone because of Covid-19 travel restrictions, but he believes the driver was impressed by the team’s upgraded facilities and preparations for his return.
“He was really impressed by all the changes in Viry, the new people, the energy, the drive and the determination in Viry. We are developing a new power unit for what will now be 2022 — it was scheduled for 2021 but has been delayed by a year.
“Obviously I am biased when I say that, but it is extremely important for us to see Fernando and to witness the pride and excitement in his eyes. He also saw the changes in Enstone. A nice building alone doesn’t guarantee success, so we need to work hard to ensure he has a car he wants and deserves.”
Abiteboul admitted the team’s simulator “is not necessarily the main strength of the team” and said work is underway to improve it. “It’s typically an area where there’s been a lack of investment in the last few years,” he added.
“More broadly, we saw a Fernando who is happy to be back — not yet back in full action, but back in the team environment, especially with a team he knows and where he has strong memories. Memories are not a guarantee of the future, so we need to be forward-looking.”
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