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Fernando Alonso was world champion in 2005 and 2006. Tim Goode

Former world champion Alonso set for F1 return three years after walking away

The 38-year-old Spaniard will make his comeback with Renault in 2021.

FERNANDO ALONSO IS set to return to Formula One with Renault in 2021.

The PA news agency understands that confirmation of the double world championโ€™s comeback could be confirmed as early as Wednesday.

Alonso, who turns 39 later this month, has been out of the sport since appearing to bring down the curtain on his career with McLaren in 2018.

But the Spaniard, who won successive championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006, is now poised for a sensational return to the grid with the French manufacturer.

Alonso is primed to replace Daniel Ricciardo, who is moving to McLaren at the end of the year. Ricciardo is taking over from Carlos Sainz ahead of his switch to Ferrari.

Alonso has competed in 311 grands prix, winning 32 of them. He starred for Renault in the early years, before quitting McLaren after one season following a turbulent campaign alongside the then-rookie Lewis Hamilton.

He returned to Renault before a four-year period at Ferrari where he came close to winning the title on two occasions. After falling out with the Italian team, he went back to McLaren, but the switch proved desperately unsuccessful.

Alonso quit the sport after four seasons with McLaren, setting his sights on becoming only the second driver since Britainโ€™s Graham Hill to complete the so-called Triple Crown โ€“ winning the Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans 24 Hours and Indy 500.

Although he won the famous sportscar endurance race in 2018 and 2019 he has not been able to crack the Indy 500, despite a remarkable effort on his first appearance back in 2017.

Renault are struggling in the sport, but Alonso will be hoping that an overhaul in the regulations and the introduction of a ยฃ115m-a-season budget cap in 2022 will fire them back up the grid. He will partner the Frenchman Esteban Ocon.

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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Jan 20th 2012, 9:18 PM

    You actually answered your own question there. The answer is support..through think and thin. Through ups and downs. That is what a real supporter does

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Jan 20th 2012, 9:59 PM

    Well done connacht.

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    Mute Gus Lynch
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    Jan 20th 2012, 10:25 PM

    Brilliant performance. Particularly second half into a gale. Pure passion. Wouldโ€™ve been be very sad to see them not win a game in the pool.

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    Mute Fiachra KME
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    Jan 20th 2012, 11:55 PM

    Well done Connacht- a victory of heart over wallet! A determined and committed team that deserve a lot more success! Also great that 3 provinces are through- and as an Ulster man thanks for that ;D Eirรฉ abรบ!

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    Mute Ryan ร“ Giobรบin
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    Jan 20th 2012, 9:54 PM

    YEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

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    Mute Cathal Tuohy
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    Jan 20th 2012, 10:20 PM

    Three times as many Irish teams as other home nations i believe in Q Fโ€™s

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    Mute Clive Solas
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    Jan 20th 2012, 11:54 PM

    Home nations? What home is that horse? Home of what exactly? Feck off to the BBC with your โ€œhome nationsโ€ boyo.

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    Mute Clive Solas
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    Jan 21st 2012, 12:22 AM

    Thumbs down all you want, but anyone using the term โ€œhome nationsโ€ can only be a west brit.

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    Mute Clive Solas
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    Jan 21st 2012, 1:51 AM

    From Wikipedia: Home Nations is a collective term with one of two meanings depending on the context. Politically, it means the nations of the constituent countries
     of the United Kingdom
     (England
    , Northern Ireland
    ,Scotland
     and Wales
    ). In sport, if a sport is governed by a council representing the island of Ireland
    , such as the Irish Rugby Football Union
    , the term can refer to the nations of the constituent countries on the island of Great Britain
     (England, Scotland and Wales) and the collective Irish nation. This dual meaning has persisted in existence despite the partition of Ireland in 1922 as historically the term included all ofIreland
    , which between 1800 and 1922 was wholly a part of the United Kingdom. The term home countries (not to be confused with the โ€œhome counties
    โ€œ) is also sometimes used, and is synonymous.[1]

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    Mute Joe Keenan
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    Jan 20th 2012, 9:54 PM

    What a load of horse manure. Thatโ€™s like saying โ€œI donโ€™t like black people but Iโ€™m not a racistโ€

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    Mute emmomac
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    Jan 20th 2012, 9:42 PM

    they are on the verge here!

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    Mute Phil Mc Donald
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    Jan 20th 2012, 10:43 PM

    What do you care?

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    Mute Aenghus Geoghegan
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    Jan 21st 2012, 12:16 AM

    fair ple diobh. Dylan rodgers told me last week in trevor Brennans pub to put my house on a connacht victoryโ€ฆ shoulda listened to himโ€ฆ

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    Mute Pรกdraic O'Callanรกin
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    Jan 21st 2012, 3:34 AM

    Hell or Connacht? Poor Quins got both.

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    Mute Soupy Norman
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    Jan 21st 2012, 12:44 AM

    Mike Mc Carthy and Muldoon would want to be getting a look in with performances like that

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    Mute Soupy Norman
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    Jan 21st 2012, 12:44 AM

    With the Ireland squad that is

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    Mute emmomac
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    Jan 20th 2012, 8:07 PM

    in any other sport and with any other team, massive questions would be asked of a team going for a 15th loss in a row. A run only matched by Galway United in recent memory.It is truly bizarre that the fans continue to blindly support this team. It is not admirable, it is not brave and will only contribute to their continued role as whipping boys. Best of luck to them tonight as I really do think they deserve a win. They have performed well against way bigger budgest but at what stage do you, as a supporter, say enough is enough. Something has to change. Again, best of luck to them tonight.

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    Mute Joe Mackenzie
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    Jan 20th 2012, 9:02 PM

    What a silly comment

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    Mute James Corr
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    Jan 20th 2012, 10:08 PM

    Mayo GAA anyone?!! Supporters suffering many disappointments on big days, yet still some of the best supporters in the country. Emmo you obviously donโ€™t understand the concept of being a true supporter, you donโ€™t just turn your back when the things get tough.

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    Mute Dirt Lancaster
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    Jan 21st 2012, 9:25 AM

    Wimmin

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    Mute Peter Gallagher
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    Jan 21st 2012, 9:36 AM

    Absolute rubbish comment, fails to understand meaning of โ€œSupporterโ€

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    Mute Seamus O Tighearnaigh
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    Jan 21st 2012, 1:06 AM

    The Westโ€™s awake โ€“ the Westโ€™s awake!

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    Mute Jamie O Sullivan
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    Jan 21st 2012, 1:27 AM

    If Muldoon & Mc Carthy producing displays like that week in and week out, they would get a look. Consistency is the key.

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    Mute B OMor
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    Jan 21st 2012, 7:36 AM

    I feel sorry for Connor O Shea. He deserved a quarter final place after the win in Toulouse.

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    Mute Pรกdraic O'Callanรกin
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    Jan 21st 2012, 11:00 AM

    I think losing to Toulouse at the Stoop coupled with a loss in Galway has handed Quins exactly what they deserve really. One Swallow does not a summer make.,.

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    Mute B OMor
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    Jan 21st 2012, 8:14 PM

    Fair enough. But still would like to see oshea do well.

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    Mute James Neary
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    Jan 21st 2012, 12:09 PM

    Great win, my nerves are shot after that finish, great to see a full house in Galway as well. Might not be the best team in the country but our supporters will rival anyone. Best of luck to Ulster, Leinster and Munster for the rest of the competition

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    Mute Desmond Molloy
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    Jan 21st 2012, 5:56 AM

    Oppps! ( famous refrain of US presidential hopefuls) that oneโ€™s been done!

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    Mute Desmond Molloy
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    Jan 21st 2012, 5:54 AM

    The West awake!

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