Renault says it is likely to hand Fernando Alonso track time in a Formula 1 car prior to the end of 2020 in order to get him back up to speed.
Alonso last sampled Formula 1 machinery with McLaren during an in-season test in Bahrain in 2019, but has remained active in other categories, most notably at the Indianapolis 500.
Formula 1 is set to slash its pre-season test programme in 2021 and hold only three days, likely to be in Bahrain, prior to the proposed curtain-raiser, also set for the Gulf state.
It would ostensibly only leave Alonso with one-and-half days of time in Renault’s 2021 car prior to his comeback.
Formula 1 has one test day arranged post-season in Abu Dhabi but this is outlined for young drivers, with the regulations stipulating that those with more than two grand prix starts are ineligible.
Renault has suggested it is still working on a proposal to allow Alonso to sample current-spec machinery, potentially at a filming day, but is anyway likely to run the Spaniard in its 2018 car.
“One thing that I can say is that he’s definitely keen on getting back behind the steering wheel, so we’ll see that,” said Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul.
“We are building the programme. There is a couple of opportunities within, obviously, the restriction of the sporting regulation.
“There are things like filming days that we’ve not done so far, there is a post-season test that I have already commented on – we’ll see where we get there.
“We also have a two-years old car programme that we can run pretty much anywhere and he will probably do a bit of that also. So, you’ll see him in action. I can’t say here where and when exactly yet.”
Alonso last week visited Renault’s facilities in the United Kingdom and France, carrying out simulator duties, and holding meetings with senior personnel.
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