Alonso fastest for Renault in Abu Dhabi F1 young drivers test

Renault’s Fernando Alonso managed the fastest time as he topped the young drivers test in Abu Dhabi on the final day of Formula 1 track running in 2020.

The two-time world champion posted a 1m36.333 to end the test originally intended for junior drivers quickest as he continued to get up to speed ahead of his return to the F1 grid next season following a two-year hiatus. Alonso's time was 0.026 seconds quicker than the fastest Renault qualifying lap last weekend. 

Renault was granted dispensation from the FIA to run Alonso, who made the most of his first full day behind the wheel of the French manufacturer’s RS20 to log a total of 105 laps.

Alonso was two-tenths clear of Formula E regulars Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne, both of whom were in action for Mercedes behind the wheel of its double title-winning W11 that won 13 of the 17 races in 2020.

Robert Kubica capped off his first year working with Alfa Romeo as its reserve driver by finishing fourth-fastest as one of a number of more experienced drivers in action at the Yas Marina Circuit on Tuesday, with the Pole clocking 89 laps.

Ahead of his expected graduation to F1 alongside Pierre Gasly for 2021, Red Bull and Honda protege Yuki Tsunoda was fifth-fastest for AlphaTauri as he racked up valuable mileage with a 122-lap haul.

Next up came fellow Red Bull junior Juri Vips, who ended his first official day of running in F1 machinery sixth in the timesheets in the team’s RB16, with the 20-year-old Estonian set to compete in Formula 2 on a full-time basis next season.

Ferrari development driver Antonio Fuoco was seventh, ahead of Ferrari Driver Academy member Callum Ilott in the second Alfa Romeo and Renault’s Guanyu Zhou, who lapped well over a second slower than what Alonso managed.

Having had to sit out of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after making his F1 debut at the previous round in Bahrain as stand-in for the Mercedes-bound George Russell, Jack Aitken returned to the cockpit of Williams’ FW43 as he finished 10th.

2019 Formula 3 champion Robert Shwartzman was just 0.004s behind in the other Ferrari, ahead of Red Bull reserve Sebastien Buemi and F2 driver Marino Sato, who made his maiden F1 appearance for AlphaTauri.

Fellow F2 races Roy Nissany and 2020 champion Mick Schumacher propped up the timesheets for Williams and Haas, with the latter getting in more running ahead of his F1 debut next year with the American team.