Fernando Alonso is present at a grand prix for the first time in 2020 at Imola and will observe Renault’s protocol through the course of the weekend.
Alonso will return to a full-time Formula 1 race seat next season with Renault – which will be rebranded as Alpine – after spending two years out of the championship.
He has participated in simulator sessions and meetings remotely and recently tested Renault’s R.S.20 as part of a filming day.
Alonso will again get behind the wheel of Renault machinery when he samples the squad’s 2018 car next week as part of a two-day test in Bahrain.
But Alonso is present at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with Renault in order to continue learning with Renault.
“He is here to have a first look at how we go racing,” said Renault’s Sporting Director Alan Permane.
“Not to critique it but to settle himself in for next year so he gets a jump on what we do.
“He has been listening in on race weekends three or four race weekends. He has a laptop and can use the F1 pit wall software. So he can follow the cars.
“He has been listening in on our meetings. And our session debriefs in our pre-briefs and strategy meetings and stuff like that.
“This is just the next step, so is not here to take any active part in the weekend, he is here to listen and get himself up to speed.”
Alonso famously claimed victory with Renault at Imola in 2005 en route to his maiden world title as he held off Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher by just two-tenths of a second.
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