Alonso speeds up 2021 preparations with Bahrain test

©Renault

40

Fernando Alonso will ramp up his preparations for his return to the F1 grid next season with Renault, the Spaniard running in a 2018-spec car next week at Bahrain.

Alonso kick started his preparations with Renault by spending a considerable amount of time at Enstone, sitting in on engineering debriefs and conducting multiple simulator sessions.

The two-time world champion was also offered an opportunity to stretch his legs onboard Renault's R.S.20 earlier this month at Barcelona where he completed a 100km test during a filming day.

Read also - Alonso: 'The car is outperforming me at the moment'

Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul has asked the FIA for an exemption to allow Alonso to join Formula 1's post-season young drivers' test at Abu Dhabi.

But the 39-year-old will be in action next week according to a tweet on Friday from Renault.

"Next step in Fernando's Back to F1 journey; a two-day R.S.18 test in Bahrain next week! 4-5 November, stay tuned."

Alonso's run in Bahrain will follow a four-day test that gets underway today at Sakhir where Renault juniors Christian Lundgaard, Oscar Piastri and Guanyu Zhou will be put through their paces with a 2018 car.

Alonso will return to the team for which he won both his world titles, and which has slowly but surely been improving its performance. But Renault F1 director Alain Prost is keeping the French outfit's expectations for next season - and those of Alonso - in check.

"He is realistic," Prost told Spanish daily AS. "You know me – I’m also realistic. I will never say stupid things about when we are going to win with Fernando because it is not known.

"We are at one level and we want to reach another. We do not know when we will be there, but the most important thing is to reach it," added the F1 legend.

"Will the budget ceiling affect the other teams more than us? We operate underneath it now and have even had fewer resources than Sauber, Toro Rosso or McLaren in the past.

"We do not have a large budget and from next year we will be at the same level.

"As for Fernando, it’s good that he sees next year to improve the car before reaching 2022. He will fight with a good, decent car but not a winner. In the future, we will see."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

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.