Fernando Alonso drives Renault's F1 2020 car for the first time

Fernando Alonso drove Renault's current car for the first time in a filming day at Barcelona in what was a significant ramp-up of the Spaniard's preparations for his F1 comeback with the team next year.

For the first time since testing a McLaren-Renault in April 2019, Alonso was back in F1 machinery for one of Renault's permitted filming days of the year driving their 2020 car, the RS20, which finished on the podium for the first time at the Eifel GP on Sunday.

With the test limited to 100km, Alonso completed 21 laps of the Circuit de Catalunya.

Alonso, who last drove a Renault F1 car in 2009, is returning to the sport next year for a third stint with the team he won his two world titles with after two seasons off the grid.

"It felt amazing to be able to drive these cars after two years and feel the speed again, how everything comes so fast, corner after corner, the performance under braking and all the things a Formula 1 car has to offer. To feel it once again felt nice," said the Spaniard.

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"I think it's going to be like a new beginning. Getting surprised about the speed of the car, the braking performance and corner speed. A lot of things will surprise me once again and I'm looking forward [to it]."

The impact of the Covid-19 crisis on F1 means that, in a cost-saving regulation change, teams have to carry over their current chassis into the following season for the first time.

Alonso's run in the RS20 was therefore his first drive in the same car he will essentially be racing in 2021.

The Spaniard has worked towards the test with time in the team's simulator at their Oxfordshire base in recent weeks. In constant contact with the team when they are at the track, Alonso added that "I'm in the weekend even from a distance".

"I think the car was a nice surprise," he said.

"We know the car is performing well at the last couple of races and I felt the grip and certainly good potential in it. The last time I drove a Renault engine was in 2018 [at a race] and I felt a step forwards, which is quite important there. Everything felt good.

"I wasn't able to maximise the performance of the car because I'm not up to speed yet, but I'm happy with the day."

The Barcelona outing came 20 years after a 19-year-old Alonso first drove for the team on the same circuit, when it was known as Benetton.

The Enstone team is rebranding again next year with the outfit to be known as Alpine, Renault's performance sportscar brand. Alonso has been signed to replace Daniel Ricciardo, who is joining McLaren.