Fernando Alonso ‘back home’ in Formula 1 as two-time world champion prepares for race return

Fernando Alonso makes his 2018 F1 debut at Bahrain GP this weekend as he kicks off a new era with Alpine; Watch all sessions from Sakhir live on Sky Sports F1, starting with first practice on Friday at 11.30am

Fernando Alonso says he feels “back home” in Formula 1 and is “very confident” before returning to a Bahraini GP this weekend.

After two years away from the sport he shone for the better part of 20 years, Alonso, now 39, has returned to the grid for 2021 with Alpine – a sub-brand of the Renault team he won his back titles. in the 2000s.

And despite his varied motor sports experiences in recent years, Alonso acknowledged that there was always a persuasion to come back to F1.

“I had always been seen as the F1 person in different plots,” Alonso told Ted Kravitz at Sky F1 in Bahrain.

“When I was in Le Mans, I was an F1 guy, when I was in Dakar I was an F1 guy, and now that I’m back in F1 it’s like coming home in a way. “

He said: “But in the end I was always moved by challenging myself in different things.

“The last two years I have challenged myself in completely different environments and I think the biggest challenge is to come back now and try to be successful again in Formula 1. I had last year when I decided to return and when I was wondering what to do next.

“It was very attractive.”

Alonso insists he is a better driver now than he was when he left the sport two years ago – although his team ‘s performance may not be as unknown.

Renault was in the fifth last year after a highly competitive midfield fight, while the rebranded Alpine underwent a relatively quiet pre-season test at Sakhir two weeks ago.

But Alonso is excited.

“I think at this stage of the year it’s hard to make any predictions,” he said.

“But I think we have a good team, we have good potential, we saw some progress last year at Renault and I’m very confident that 2021 will be a good one for us.”