Alonso back in the Renault next week

Fernando Alonso leaves little to chance when it comes to preparing for his return to Formula 1 next year. After an earlier test/filming day with the current Renault, he will drive in the 2018 Renault in Bahrain next week.

After two years of absence, the two-time world champion returns to the team where he won his titles, although the team will be known as Alpine F1 from 2021. Alonso replaces Daniel Ricciardo, who is leaving for McLaren and becomes a teammate of Esteban Ocon. The Spaniard will also be present at Imola with Renault this weekend and has already completed several kilometres in the simulator. He is working hard to get ready for the start next year.

The next step is a two-day test on 4 and 5 November in Bahrain, which Renault announced via Twitter. It will be extensively tested with the 2018 Renault. This is because the testing possibilities with the current car are minimal. Earlier this month he already drove one hundred kilometres during a filming day in Spain. That was with the current Renault.

"I think the car is currently performing better than I am because I can't get the most out of it. Returning to F1 speed isn't that easy, but every lap I did better", he said after the test at Barcelona. "There is room for improvement, and we are going to try that in the short term."