Alonso dreams of sharing a podium with Sainz in 2021

Fernando Alonso is keeping his expectations in check for 2021, but the Renault driver nevertheless dreams of sharing a podium with countryman Carlos Sainz next season.

Alonso will return to active duty in F1 next year after a two-year hiatus from the sport, a re-entry into the sport the 39-year-old will undertake with the team with which he won both his world titles in 2005 and 2006.

Renault - or rather Alpine as the Enstone squad will be called from next season - is unlikely to fight for race wins in 2021, but Alonso believes the odd podium is conceivable with a bit of luck.

"What would I be happy with? I have no targets in terms of a specific position," he told Cadena SER.

"It would be good to get on the podium. This season it seemed that there were more possibilities than in other years for the rest of the teams, but I am aware that those podiums only came because of disasters at Mercedes.

"Securing a podium and savoring the champagne again would be fantastic. It is conceivable and it would be a dream to be on a podium with Carlos Sainz."

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Alonso is resigned to racing in the mid-field next season, but the Spaniard hopes to give the mighty Mercedes squad a run for its money in 2022 with Alpine when F1 ushers in its new regulations.

"Next season there will be a continuation of Mercedes’ dominance, but in 2022 we have high hopes," he said.

"The objective is clear – 2021 is a year of preparation, of integration with the team during which some podiums would be fantastic.

"But in 2022 with the change of regulation, we can dream of winning and being up there again."

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