Fernando Alonso ramps up F1 return preparations with Abu Dhabi test

Fernando Alonso will continue his Formula 1 testing programme with Renault next week when he completes his latest two-day test in a 2018 car in Abu Dhabi.

The two-time F1 world champion has already conducted a filming day, limited to just 100 kilometres, in Renault’s 2020 challenger at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain last month, as well as a two-day test at Bahrain.

Alonso racked up 186 laps around the Bahrain International Circuit in Renault’s R.S.18 earlier this month and will now drive the same car around Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit on 15-16 November.

Renault Academy and Formula 2 racer Guanyu Zhou will then takeover from Alonso to complete a day of running in the R.S.18 on 17 November.

Alonso has also taken part a number of simulator sessions as he steps up his preparations for his return to F1 next season after a two-year hiatus from the sport.

Renault has been pushing for Alonso to be allowed to participate in the post-season young driver’s test following the season finale in Abu Dhabi while it has been evaluating other opportunities to give the Spaniard some much-needed track time ahead of his comeback.

After his recent test outings, Alonso admitted it will take him “a couple of races” to get back up to speed and comfortable again in F1 when he returns in 2021.

“I guess it's going to take a couple of races, to be honest,” he explained. “Because the limited testing for next year is going to be a challenge for everyone, but a little bit more for me, because I'm out of the car for two years. And I think it's going to be only one day and a half with winter testing.

"So you cannot prepare for a world championship in one day and a half. So this is how it is, I will try to create on the simulator some things that we need to save time on the real car, for fine tuning the set-up.

"But this is a new team, new steering wheel controls, new procedures, new engineers, a lot of new things that will require a little bit of time, but I will try to make it as short as possible.”

Zhou’s test marks his latest run in F1 machinery after Renault tested members of its young driver academy earlier this month in Bahrain, with the Chinese racer splitting driving duties over a four-day run alongside fellow F2 rival Christian Lundgaard and Formula 3 champion Oscar Piastri.

More testing coming for @alo_oficial and @gyzhou_33! Both will take to the R.S.18 in @ymcofficial; Fernando Alonso on 15-16 Nov and Guanyu Zhou on 17 Nov.#RSspirit pic.twitter.com/3b3DbClzFe

— Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) November 13, 2020