Since his departure from McLaren at the end of the 2018 Formula One season, Fernando Alonso is a name that is thrown into the hat during every silly season since.
The two-time world champion, who walked away from Formula One after a horror second stint at McLaren, seemingly didn’t close the door completely on his career at the pinnacle of racing and now it is possible that he may return to the grid in 2021.
Since the announcement of Sebastian Vettel’s departure from Ferrari and the subsequent confirmations that Carlos Sainz would be his replacement and in turn, Daniel Ricciardo would then move to McLaren from Renault – Alonso’s name has been strongly linked to a Formula One return with the French manufacturer.
Renault, of course, is the team with which the Spaniard won his two titles with back in 2005 and 2006, though given their current dire predicament; are they really an option for Alonso, who publicly humiliated his previous team on many occasions for being uncompetitive?
At the age of 38, Alonso has enjoyed a glittering career, achieving success beyond Formula One also – having twice won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship with Toyota. When it was announced that he’d be contesting the Indy 500 in 2017, he made it clear that his intention was to now vie for the elusive Triple Crown; comprising victories at the Indy 500, Le Mans 24 Hour and Monaco Grand Prix.
With only the Indy 500 win now left to tick off, it would have been thought that the Spaniard would firmly be focussed on achieving that feat, following last year’s disaster with McLaren – who failed to even qualify for the race entirely.
A return now to Formula One full-time with Renault seems to be a diversion from that and a left-field choice, given the fact that the French outfit have been struggling on-track and made no gains between the last two seasons. Which was enough for Aussie Ricciardo to ditch the team without even racing the 2020 car and head for rivals McLaren for 2021.
While Alonso’s former team boss in Zak Brown says, “he’s a no-brainer to put in,” to a Renault car, the question is whether the Spaniard really wants to spearhead a midfield team out of the doldrums.
“I don’t know if Fernando has the appetite to go on a three-year journey versus getting in a car he can win in, in 2021,” added McLaren boss Brown.
Being picked up by one of the current race-winning outfits has been an impossibility since Alonso was struggling in a Honda-powered McLaren and that is something that still hasn’t changed. At the time he left Formula One without a single podium during the second stint at McLaren, Alonso himself stated that unless he had a winning car – there was no desire to return.
(AAP Image/Dave Acree)
This could be attributed with his toxic nature which eventually destabilised his tenures at Ferrari and McLaren (on both occasions) and the pressure that is put on the team to deliver.
As a racer, Alonso is no doubt one of the best seen in Formula One and one only has to go back and watch a highlights reel of his career to see him wrangle whatever car he’s into places they should never go. Therefore the 2012 season could be regarded as the Spaniard’s best, despite losing to the title by three points in the final race.
It was his journey in the cantankerous Ferrari that year that highlighted Alonso’s ultimate talent.
It is the added baggage, unfortunately, the former world champion brings that would make him an unsuitable choice for a team in a perpetual state of rebuilding such as Renault – regardless of whether he is ‘detoxed’ according to ex-team boss Flavio Briatore.
Renault could go for other options indeed, which also would be more financially attractive than the high-demand Alonso and quite frankly the French marque’s future in Formula One at the moment is no certainty either.
A career unfulfilled perhaps, or just let sleeping dogs lie with an already glowing list of achievements. Unless Fernando Alonso is winning in Formula One again, it would be moot to make a return regardless of his gravitas and presence on the grid.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
That's why the performance budget cap will be a good thing when it is introduced. Any of those manufacturers questioning their involvement in the sport, should be enticed about spending less money and for Renault especially - having an equal opportunity to compete with Mercedes. You can put a cap on spending, but can't cap innovation. The best minds will always find an edge and as you say, some new concepts is what Renault need. Vettel and Mercedes would be indeed fun.
Simoc
Guest
The way I see it Renault have all the ammo to succeed now. Nobody wants their engines and their Aud$45m Australian driver walked away. And the regs will be different in 2022. All they need is new concepts in their car, and French cars history are so littered with these, the surprise would be if they can't come up with a better, faster car in 2022 and winning by 2023. I like having works cars like Renault, Mercedes in the field and it would be good to have more of them, not less. It's a pity that both are questioning the value of F1 though nearly bookends on the grid. Daimler want Vettel on board in 2021. Now that would be fun.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
All the cards were in his favour to win Le Mans, without any other hybrid LMP competition as in previous years, though I guess winning is winning and in the history books his name is there as the victor. At least the Indy 500 is not going to be one that'll be much harder, as we've already seen from his two attempts. As for Renault, it all depends on if they stay in F1 for the mid to long-term anyway. Ocon is French, so they already have a French driver. But yeah an all-French line-up with Gasly onboard would be something too.
Simoc
Guest
Funny that Brown says "Alonso to Renault' is a no brainer given that he didn't want him and took the underperforming Ricciardo who has been a dismal flop at Renault. If 2019 was a one off and Sainz was the difference well Brown will have got it all wrong. Alonsos Le Mans victory was farcical at best with only one competitor in the class allowed to beat him, as the number two car wasn't allowed to pass. It makes a mockery of the so called Triple Crown. I doubt Alonso has anything positive to offer F1. He blamed Honda while at McLaren which means Honda, Mercedes don't want him in their cars and Ferrari want to say nice things about him at a long distance. Red Bull are blaming Honda for their success the very next season. Without Alonso the McLaren went a lot faster with Sainz on board. I'de like to see Gasly at Renault. A French driver in a French car hasn't happened in F1 for a while. Gasly was disappointing at Red Bull but straight back on the pace at Torro Rosso. It would be entertaining between him and Ocon as well.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
McLaren are a full-time team now, though have committed to two young drivers in Oliver Askew and Patricio O'Ward. Zak Brown has said that they'll have a third entry for the Indy 500, which seems the only place for Alonso on that grid. He fished around for a top seat elsewhere, but Andretti can't have him due to Honda and Penske along with Ganassi already have loaded rosters.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
If it was for a team that was winning, then I'd like to see him come back on a one-year deal to see what he achieves. Kind of like Prost in 1993 (even though he had a two-year deal). Seeing Alonso win would be great, but if we had to go on that two, three-year journey where a rebuild is required - then it's likely he'll crack it again. Hulkenberg would be great to have back for Renault given his loyalty, or even look at promoting one of their Academy drivers.
Micko
Roar Rookie
I can't see why Alonso doesn't commit fulltime to IndyCar? Are McLaren a fulltime IndyCar team, or do they just enter into the Indy 500?
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
I've also been thinking about this. I'm firmly in the no camp. Alonso's time in Formula One has long been up. Renault should be looking at their young drivers and not bringing back someone who has had his day. Or even bringing back Hulkenberg - that'd be a popular choice - he's a man with some unfinished business. And anyway, considering Alonso wasn't too pleased about his 'GP2 engine', I don't think he think kindly of the Renault (if it performs as predicted pre-season). He'll be 40 in 2021 and a move to Renault may not yield results as quick as he'd probably like. It's not worth it. Fernando should try again at Indy and continue his so-far successful career for Toyota in WEC.