FERNANDO ALONSO has rejoined Renault – just as SunSport first revealed on Monday.
Alonso, 38, will drive for the team for the 2021 season as a replacement for McLaren-bound, Daniel Ricciardo.
Fernando Alonso is back in Formula 1 with RenaultCredit: PA:Press Association
SunSport understands that the Spaniard has signed a two-year deal worth around £30million.
Alonso has been out of the sport since he left McLaren in 2018 and has been focusing on racing in IndyCar and the World Endurance Championship.
Speaking about his return to the team, Alonso said: “Renault is my family, my fondest memories in Formula One with my two World Championship titles, but I’m now looking ahead.
“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.
“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.”
Alonso’s task at Renault will be to increase their competitiveness.
The French car giant has invested heavily in its F1 programme. However, they have been disappointing at best.
Ricciardo was a high-profile signing from Red Bull but has already jumped ship after feeling let down by the team’s promises.
The works team has been upstaged by customers, McLaren, who themselves are ditching Renault’s engines for next season in favour of better Mercedes ones.
As it stands, despite Renault’s substantial outlay to increase the production of their engines, they currently have no orders in the book beyond 2020.
As for Renault boss, Cyril Abiteboul, Alonso’s expected arrival will signal one final roll of the dice.
There were already rumblings that the car company would quit F1 and seeing another expensive flop could prove to be the final straw.
It marks a return to Renault for Alonso, who started his F1 career at Minardi, and enjoyed two successful spells at Renault between 2003 and 2009, winning two world titles in ’05, and ’06.
But it was his time at McLaren in 2007 when he went up against Lewis Hamilton where the two fell out spectacularly.
Fernando Alonso is back with Renault – and ready to re-engage the rivalry with Lewis HamiltonCredit: AFP
Their rivalry spilled over amid accusations of favouritism towards Hamilton and resulted in Alonso quitting the team to return to Renault the following year.
Alonso switched to Ferrari in 2010 and during his five years with the team he finished second in the championship on three occasions.
Another big-money move, this time back to McLaren backfired, as the team endured a miserable time with engine suppliers Honda.
Alonso publicly humiliated the Japanese company frequently, none more so than when he pulled up a deckchair at the Brazilian GP in 2015 after an engine failure in qualifying.
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When he left in 2018, it felt like he was slipping out the backdoor.
Widely regarded as one of the best, he has two F1 titles as his undeniable talent was limited due to moving to the wrong team at the wrong time.
There are also questions over his role as a team player, having fallen out with staff at McLaren and Toyota.
Fernando Alonso has a job on his hands to get Renault back being competitiveCredit: AFP – Getty
F1 hero Alonso flips car twice down huge sand dune in Dakar Rally but amazingly carries on without windshield
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
