Fernando Alonso will return to Formula 1 with Renault in 2021 it is to be announced on Wednesday.

On Monday, reports and rumours began to emerge that the Enstone-based outfit had made their decision, with team boss Cyril Abiteboul telling personnel in Austria that it would be a driver that had raced there before.

Some of the more detailed rumours had suggested that only applied to those who were at Renault 15 years ago, which of course only meant one man - unless Giancarlo Fisichella was making a remarkable comeback.

And that has seemingly been confirmed with now major sources like ESPN and the BBC both reporting the double world champion has agreed to join the French manufacturer next season.

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Officially, Renault has refused to comment on the Alonso speculation, but Spanish media claims he has signed a two-year deal worth $12m a year.

Last weekend, Abiteboul was asked about the possibility of signing the soon-to-be 39-year-old later this month and again acknowledged he was an option.

“It could be a lot of drivers. There are some nice drivers who will be available next year. The one you mentioned is an option," he told RMC.

“The only thing I can say for sure is that we’re going to take the time to think about it. It’s an extremely important decision.

“We didn’t want to get into the kind of activism that there has been from Ferrari and McLaren, for reasons that are theirs.”

One less believable claim was that Alonso could race for Renault at some point this year, depending on their relationship with Ricciardo, which Fernando quickly laughed it off.

But as for 2021, it does seem as though the Spaniard will be back on the grid for the first time since leaving McLaren at the end of 2018 and back at Renault for the third time in his F1 career.