Fernando Alonso is in the house!

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Yesterday was a homecoming of sorts for Fernando Alonso, with Renault's 2021 driver returning to Enstone for the first time since leaving the French outfit at the end of the 2009 season.

Alonso - already wrapped up in team kit - was greeted by Renault chief race engineer Ciaron Pilbeam and given a tour of the premises, although the two-time world champion is well-acquainted with Enstone's corridors as he said on Twitter.

"An incredible thrill to go back to the factory," he wrote. "I came to Renault in 2002, when I was 21 years old, I know every corner of this place, every corridor, every door... It has been a very special day."

To help its new driver hit the ground running early next year, Renault is seeking permission from the FIA to run Alonso at the post-season young drivers' test scheduled in Abu Dhabi in December.

At 39, he's no longer a spring chicken, but Fernando Alonso is raring to go!

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.