Alonso completes 'needed laps' in two-day Renault Bahrain test

Fernando Alonso has continued to step up preparations for his Formula 1 return by completing a two-day test in Bahrain.

Having driven one of Renault's two permitted filming days in the RS20 at Barcelona in October, Alonso racked up a total of 186 laps of the Bahrain International Circuit across two days of running.

As per regulations, the Spaniard lapped in the 2018 RS18.

Ahead of his test, Alonso told Sky Sports F1: "I need those laps now.

"The simulator is good up to a certain point but then you need the physical effort of the car, the g-forces.

“The training of the neck, you can do as many elastics [as you want] at home, but you can never replicate the real car so I need as many laps as possible.”

Alonso walked away from F1 in 2018 after enduring a difficult second stint with McLaren but the two-time champion remained confident he will be up to pace from the first race of the year.

He added: “Honestly, I expect to be straight up to speed. But I am aware of the challenge that maybe I will face in the first couple of races, not only on pure speed but also on procedures but also on steering wheel commands. Things that are new to me.

“I will need some time.

“I am aware that maybe I will struggle a little bit but I want to think that it will not happen.”

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