Fernando Alonso 'on the phone constantly' ahead of F1 return - Renault

Renault F1

Alonso 'on the phone constantly' ahead of F1 return - Renault

Spaniard is permanently in touch with the team

Ian Parkes & Nicolas Quarles van Ufford

Thursday 1 October 2020 13:35

Renault sporting director Alan Permane claims the "extra support" being offered by Fernando Alonso is being felt throughout the team ahead of his F1 comeback.

Alonso recently spent three days at Renault's base in Enstone, completing his seat fit and partaking in simulator work in preparation for his return next year.

While the two-time world champion has kept busy since his initial retirement in 2018, notably winning back-to-back Le Mans, the Spaniard is now solely focused on Renault, that rebrands to Alpine in 2021.

Article continues under video

With his other commitments concluded, Permane said Alonso has offered to help Renault "in any way he can" until he can start taking his talents to the track again, and is constantly contacting the team.

"Now that he’s finished his IndyCar stuff he’s following the weekends closely," said Permane.

"The phone buzzes quite a bit over the weekend, so it’s good to feel that extra support, I guess."

Highlighting the lengths Alonso has undertaken recently to integrate himself back into the team, Permane has revealed the 39-year-old volunteered to spend 14 days in quarantine prior to the sim work.

"He went somewhere for 14 days so that he could come to the UK to the sim, specifically, because of the quarantine rules," added Permane.

"We explained all that to him and he said ‘Okay, no problem, I’ll go to Italy for 14 days beforehand and come and do it’.

"I don’t think it’s hard to go somewhere nice in Italy for a couple of weeks but that just gives you an idea on how focused he is and how serious he’s taking it."

Before you go...

Ferrari academy trio "not in a shootout" for F1 drive

Kvyat shrugs off "questions and rumours" of AlphaTauri ousting