Fernando Alonso has been given permission by the FIA to drive for Renault in the post-season ‘young driver’ test in Abu Dhabi.
The double world champion is of course returning with the team that will be known as Alpine from 2021 and has conducted a filming day in this year’s car plus two two-day outings in the 2018 car in the Middle East.
This is because it was expected Alonso would be blocked from running in the test at Yas Marina which was originally limited for drivers with a maximum of two races in F1.
But Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul confirmed a request had been made for the FIA to make an exception for the 39-year-old, as they are allowed to do.
“Initially [the approach] was, I drive when I drive,” he said. “But now I get the feeling that he is really keen to get to have a go, even in the current car.
“So we are looking into the opportunity to do that, but being very sensible.
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“So I mean, I’m not talking about any FP1 because frankly, he doesn’t need that: he doesn’t need the exposure of FP1. And we need clearly the setup opportunity, but we’d like to see [him in the car] because I can feel that he has hunger for it.
“We need to see if it can happen based on the testing criteria. So we are talking with the FIA about that.”
And now the governing body has given the go-ahead with President Jean Todt reportedly opening the test up to any driver who hasn’t raced in F1 in 2020.
As a result, Red Bull is now expected to field Sebastien Buemi and Alfa Romeo reserve driver Robert Kubica is also now likely to drive.
Some teams may still oppose the move by the FIA, but if this does go ahead as expected, talk about a ‘young driver test’ slightly missing the point…