[Driver] Alonso to Renault in 2021

[Casper]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

I think you missed the news on the prior page. This thread picked up again because it was revealed he WILL be driving for Renault in 2021. No more speculation.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...eturn/4827735/

Richard

To be pedantic that is not the return announcement at all, just the anticipation of it. My post preceded the formal announcement by a fair bit.

[GT6]

Well let us hope the renault improves as it really needs to.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by GT6

Well let us hope the renault improves as it really needs to.

The engine/PU is doing well in McLaren's hands, which I think suggests the problem is with the Renault chassis.

[GT6]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

The engine/PU is doing well in McLaren's hands, which I think suggests the problem is with the Renault chassis.

Strange that the renault engine always does better in a non renault badged car.

[Born Racer]

He has historically appeared to have a knack for being in the right team at the wrong time, but it's more complex. McLaren could have worked out after 2007, but for reasons we know, things imploded. Had a few races gone differently, he could have had a championship or two at Ferrari, the same as Vettel these last few years, so his timing there wasn't too bad either. He stuck at McLaren a while, and it would appear they are coming good, although the jury's out on whether they can take it to the manufacturers.

Likewise, Renault is a manufacturer and it hasn't shown championship promise for a long time. I suspect Alonso misses the thrill of competing in F1 and just wants to mix it with the big guns. He would probably be delighted with podium finishes these days, competitive though he is. He knows he could have won more titles and has probably come to terms with his career being a bit unfulfilled. It doesn't mean he should miss out on the chance to battle in the sport anyway.

I guess Mercedes are never going to come knocking.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

He has historically appeared to have a knack for being in the right team at the wrong time, but it's more complex. McLaren could have worked out after 2007, but for reasons we know, things imploded. Had a few races gone differently, he could have had a championship or two at Ferrari, the same as Vettel these last few years, so his timing there wasn't too bad either. He stuck at McLaren a while, and it would appear they are coming good, although the jury's out on whether they can take it to the manufacturers.

Likewise, Renault is a manufacturer and it hasn't shown championship promise for a long time. I suspect Alonso misses the thrill of competing in F1 and just wants to mix it with the big guns. He would probably be delighted with podium finishes these days, competitive though he is. He knows he could have won more titles and has probably come to terms with his career being a bit unfulfilled. It doesn't mean he should miss out on the chance to battle in the sport anyway.

I guess Mercedes are never going to come knocking.

Historically, Renault's championship promise as a manufacturer has been a bit of a mixed bag. First time round from '77 to '85 their best performances as a manufacturer were, 3rd in '81 and '82 and 2nd in '83. Their worst was in their final season, with 7th in '85, behind customer teams Lotus-Renault 4th and Ligier-Renault 6th.

[S griffin]

Due to be announced tomorrow. Can’t wait to hear the news, assuming it will happen. Him and Ocon would make an interesting team, assuming Ocon is staying

[GT6]

The BBC announcement said he would still do indi with Mclaren

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by GT6

The BBC announcement said he would still do indi with Mclaren

This is the livery for Alonso's 2020 Indy 500 challenge.

https://www.autosport.com/indycar/ne...lis-500-return

[E.B]

Originally Posted by GT6

The BBC announcement said he would still do indi with Mclaren

I think the Renault F1 deal is for a 2021 start (ie replace the departing Danny Ric.)
Alonso at Indy with McLaren is this year for when the delayed race is run

[Nikki Katz]

How much better is next year’s Renault going to be than the McLaren of 2018? I know that they keep announcing that they’re in it for the long haul, but Renault sticking with f1 still seems a bit tenuous. The pink Mercedes isn’t helping either.

[chunterer]

Renault are doing this as a bit of a PR exercise which may deflect away from any behind the scenes discussions about withdrawing!

I don't think Alonso will mind a few engines going pop as long as there's a bit of pace here and there.

His feedback will be worth quite a lot and will help Enstone (and Wolff for that matter) get a good gauge of how Ocon is doing with an wye on 2022 perhaps?

[GingerPixel]

Renault seem to be filling a Toyota shaped hole at the moment, being such a massive company with presumably huge resources while still posing no great threat to any of the top teams.

I like Nando and I really hope this doesn't end up being a season of him going around in 5th or 6th complaining.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by GingerPixel

I like Nando and I really hope this doesn't end up being a season of him going around in 5th or 6th complaining.

That's what the 6/10ths will bring though - about 5 to 8 places higher than the cars will be running this season.

[steve_r]

Where did this 6/10ths figure come from? Is this because he thrashed Vandoorne two years ago? Do people honestly think he is 6/10ths quicker than Ricciardo?

Are people saying that Alonso would have put the McLaren on the front row in Austria, because Norris was 6/10ths off the Mercedes?

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by steve_r

Where did this 6/10ths figure come from? Is this because he thrashed Vandoorne two years ago? Do people honestly think he is 6/10ths quicker than Ricciardo?

Are people saying that Alonso would have put the McLaren on the front row in Austria, because Norris was 6/10ths off the Mercedes?

I think that Alonso once made the claim that he would be able to knock 6/10ths of a second of any cars fastest lap time or something like that a few years ago.

[crmalcolm]

Alonso feels unrewarded by McLaren

'Alonso said on BBC Radio. "What I think sometimes, and what I asked the team, is that I gave the team a lot. When I arrived in December, I remember the car I drove; I remember the results they had in 2006. And now, you know, I brought to the team half a second, six tenths, whatever, and I don't see anything giving me back. So that's the only thing."'

[bjohnsonsmith]

I'm sure money played a part, but what else lured Alonso to McLaren, as he had it made at Renault? Perhaps it was the challenge of a new team, as he had been with Renault full time since 2003?

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I'm sure money played a part, but what else lured Alonso to McLaren, as he had it made at Renault? Perhaps it was the challenge of a new team, as he had been with Renault full time since 2003?

Money. The lure of McLaren. A better long term option given McLaren's budget at the time.

Great drivers tend to have a feel for when their team is on the slide and time their moves well. He certainly did that with the McLaren move, apart from one small problem...

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Money. The lure of McLaren. A better long term option given McLaren's budget at the time.

Great drivers tend to have a feel for when their team is on the slide and time their moves well. He certainly did that with the McLaren move, apart from one small problem...

Was there any indication Renault were on the slide? Looking at both Alono's results and the team's results for 2005 and 6, they were similar. The team's performance in 2005 was slightly worse, as Fisichella had 5 retirements as opposed to 2 in 2006.

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Was there any indication Renault were on the slide? Looking at both Alono's results and the team's results for 2005 and 6, they were similar. The team's performance in 2005 was slightly worse, as Fisichella had 5 retirements as opposed to 2 in 2006.

He signed for McLaren at the end of 2005, so at that stage performance was not visibly on the slide and, like you say, 2006 was very successful (albeit a much closer fight for the title than 2005).

But long term it was always going to be the case that Renault wouldn't stay on top. They don't spend as much money as other manufacturers, Briatore always hated going a penny over budget and eventually the big spenders McLaren and Ferrari would topple them. If they needed to spend twice what Renault did to get on top then they would have done.

The other thing to remember is the performance of McLaren in 2005. They actually won the most races overall and had the faster car for a great portion of the year, though tbf Renault unleashed all their performance in the final race at China and beat McLaren handily suggesting they were holding back quite a lot whilst they wrapped up the driver's title.

Alonso was certainly proven correct. Indeed it is something of a myth that he has always chosen the wrong teams, he only really did so when he had no other options on the table.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

He certainly did that with the McLaren move, apart from one small problem...

Why wasn't Alonso more accommodating of Hamilton as lead driver (instead of blocking Hamilton in the pits and other things that made Dennis cross), so that Alonso could have stuck around at McLaren for longer?

Originally Posted by GingerPixel

Ever since I was a young boy I have dreamed of driving a Renault... and then not driving one... and then sort of retiring but not really... and then driving one again

If you search the classifieds carefully, you too can drive a lovely Fuego or Vel Satis one day!

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

Why wasn't Alonso more accommodating of Hamilton as lead driver (instead of blocking Hamilton in the pits and other things that made Dennis cross), so that Alonso could have stuck around at McLaren for longer?

Because he had too much pride for that. He wanted to win the title, although maybe some of the things he did went too far

[S griffin]

Now just need to wait and see if this announcement comes today

[E.B]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Now just need to wait and see if this announcement comes today

The Renault board have approved Alonso move and Renault F1 have confirmed what we all knew. Cue Renault is my home, my memories my future comments from FA.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/15...ally-announced