Although the future of the team remains in doubt, ever since it was confirmed that Daniel Ricciardo is leaving for McLaren, speculation has mounted over who might take the seat alongside Esteban Ocon at Renault next season.

While it is unlikely that Sebastian Vettel would be interested, the name consistently linked with the French team is that of Fernando Alonso, who won both of his titles with the Enstone-based outfit.

In the wake of Ricciardo's departure, team boss, Cyril Abiteboul talked of loyalty to the team, and in that respect Alonso might be just the thing to give the French outfit a much needed boost.

Furthermore, following his travails at McLaren and subsequent meandering in the motorsport wilderness, Flavio Briatore believes the Spaniard is up to the task.

"Fernando is motivated," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "A year out of Formula 1 has done him good. He has detoxed himself and I see him more serene and ready to return."

"In F1 it has always been about having the winning recipe," he continued, referring to Vettel's split with Ferrari. "You must have one driver who is focused on the world championship and the other who collects big points, snatching them from rivals.

"Vettel paid for the fact that a very fast boy arrived at the team. It surprised him and the team, as happened at McLaren with Hamilton. Two drivers at the same level in a team eventually risk taking points off each other."

As would appear to be the case at Red Bull, Briatore believes the signing of Carlos Sainz is a clear signal that the Italian team feels it has a clear number one in terms of Charles Leclerc, with the Spaniard expected to support him.

"He is a good driver," said the Italian, who was barred from motor sport following the infamous Crash-gate saga, "and he had a good championship in 2019 if we consider the car he had available.

"The situation seems clear to me," he continued, "Ferrari is betting everything on Leclerc and it is good because, as I had the opportunity to say last year, he is a future star. Similarities with Alonso and Schumacher? You can see the good drivers right away.

"I remember well the numbers that Michael did, even if he was still very young, with Benetton. There were also the calls from Gian Carlo Minardi to tell me about the young Alonso. You understand immediately if one is special, and Charles is."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by F1nerd, 19/05/2020 7:54

"Get back on track Alo, F1 needs great drivers to liven up the show."

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2. Posted by elsiebc, 19/05/2020 0:17

"@klmn: When my weed is gone, it's gone :-(
"

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3. Posted by elsiebc, 19/05/2020 0:16

"@Bill Hopgood: The best drivers are not team players aside from the team working for them to win. Some just hide their asshole-ness better than others. "

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4. Posted by BillH, 18/05/2020 18:52

"Perhaps being out of the F1 bubble will have changed the off track side of Alonso into the team player that most think he should be?
If that would be the case then we'd be watching perhaps the most complete driver to rival Hamilton.
Alonso is a brilliant driver, of this there is no question and from an F1 fan's perspective, it would be great to see him battling the best on track (it would be great to see any bloody F1) so hopefully within the next couple of years he ends up somewhere."

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5. Posted by Fambank, 18/05/2020 18:03

"I am afraid we have not yet, nor ever again, we will be detoxed. Such a shame for
what is essentially a great driver."

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6. Posted by Wokingchap, 18/05/2020 16:26

"Can't stand either of them and totally agree with Vinodh Moodley and Burton, 'they should both stay away from F1'. "

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7. Posted by klmn, 18/05/2020 14:39

"This evil twin is like weed , if you thinks it is gone then suddenly is pops up again."

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8. Posted by Vinodh Moodley, 18/05/2020 13:15

"@Burton Agreed. I have no trust in Flavio Briatore and I can’t accept that Alonso had no knowledge of the plan when Piquet crashed. They both should stay away from F1. I really appreciate Alonso’s pure speed and overall race craft but he’s not a team player or someone that has a reputation for building a team around him. "

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9. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 18/05/2020 12:42

"That would be great if Alonso goes back to Renault. He should've never left them. Would be even better if Renault brings back the Mild Seven style livery. Not a fan of the all black and yellow. Light blue was much better looking.

Now if only we could get back the launch control like at Alonso's reign. Watching that Renault take off was pretty special!"

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10. Posted by Burton, 18/05/2020 12:10

"Both of them can crawl back to under the bridge they came from."

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"Detoxed" Alonso "ready to return" to F1, says Briatore

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