Alonso to test 2018 Renault in Bahrain next week

2020 F1 season

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Fernando Alonso will conduct a two-day test for Renault in Bahrain next week in preparation for his comeback in the 2021 F1 season.

The two-times world champion will drive the team’s 2018 car, the RS18, at the Bahrain International Circuit on November 4th and 5th.

Alonso, who will replace Daniel Ricciardo in the team’s line-up next year, conducted a one-day, 100 kilometre filming day in the team’s current car at the Circuit de Catalunya earlier this month. It was his first run in an F1 car since he drove for McLaren in a test in Bahrain last year.

Renault attempted to arrange another opportunity for Alonso to drive their RS20 in the post-season test at Yas Marina in December. But when it was raised in a meeting of the Formula 1 Commission earlier this week rival teams reacted unfavourably to Renault’s request for a dispensation to run the veteran driver, who made his grand prix debut in 2001, in a session reserved for rookies.

The team is running a four-day test at the circuit this week for three of its Renault Sport Academy junior drivers. Christian Lundgaard, who lies fourth in the Formula 2 standings, drove the RS18 yesterday and Formula 3 champion Oscar Piastri will take over today. Guanyu Zhou, currently eighth in F2, is due to drive the car for the final two days.

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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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5 comments on “Alonso to test 2018 Renault in Bahrain next week”

  1. I think it would have been better for Renault to have done the two day test with the 2018 car earlier this month and to have done the Filming Day test with the 2020 car next week.

    1. @drycrust How does the order matter? The mileage is the same either way.

  2. I wonder why they do not consider giving him a FP1 session. At least I have not heard about any plans in that direction…

    1. They’re in tight fights in both driver’s and constructors championship, so probably want their current drivers getting as much running as possible each weekend.

      1. Makes sense. Thanks

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