"Detoxed" Alonso "motivated" again to return to Formula 1

Fernando Alonso is ready to return to Formula 1 after spending 18 months 'detoxing' on the sidelines, according to former team boss Flavio Briatore.

Alonso retired from F1 at the end of 2018, and has since competed in the World Endurance Championship, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the Dakar Rally.

Briatore, who previously acted as Alonso's manager, believes a brief spell away from F1 was exactly what the Spaniard needed to recharge his batteries.

"Fernando is motivated," Briatore told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"One year away from F1 has done him good, he has detoxed himself. I see him more serene and he is ready to return.

“We are watching what is happening. Let's not forget that there is still a championship to run."

Alonso has been heavily linked with the current vacancy at Renault, the team that helped him win his two world titles in 2005 and 2006.

However, Sebastian Vettel is also in the market for a 2021 drive, with a move to Renault appearing to be his only option unless Mercedes is willing to pair the 32-year-old German with Lewis Hamilton.

Given Vettel's situation with Ferrari and Charles Leclerc, Briatore has drawn comparisons to Alonso's experiences at McLaren in 2007 when the Spaniard was also upset by a 'number two' driver in Hamilton.

Briatore added: "You must have one driver who goes for the world championship and the other who collects heavy points, snatching them from rivals.

"Vettel paid for the fact that a very fast boy arrived at the team. It surprised him, as happened at McLaren [for Alonso] with Hamilton."

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