General
"In his rookie season next to Verstappen he did very well"
- GPblog.com
Suddenly the news dropped that Sebastian Vettel and Scuderia Ferrari would break in 2021. Carlos Sainz will succeed the German and his seat was filled again by Daniel Ricciardo. The empty seat at Renault could be filled by Fernando Alonso. Those are the rumours at least. Giedo van der Garde comments.
The former F1 driver does not see much benefit in a return of Fernando Alonso to Formula 1. Of course everything is still possible now that the seat shuffle has started. Van der Garde does see something positive in Ferrari's choice for the Spanish Sainz, however.
In conversation with Motorsport.com the Dutchman says: "I think Sainz is a good driver. When he joined Max Verstappen in F1, in his rookie season even, he actually did very well. At Renault he also beat his team mate. Sainz works hard and knows what to do. Of course Sainz can also challenge Charles Leclerc. That's what Ferrari is looking for. All in all, it's a fair choice."
'Make way for the youth Alonso'
The displacement of seats brings an empty seat to the Renault F1 team. The return of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso is often linked to this seat. In 2005 and 2006 the Spaniard dominated together with the team.
Van der Garde isn't a big fan of Alonso's return: "If I were Fernando, I wouldn't want it either. He will be coming back to Renault for the third time. Let him keep himself busy with IndyCar and the Dakar and give young talent a chance in F1".
The driver concludes: "Not those old guys anymore. Kimi Raikkonen also has to quit and Fernando doesn't have to come back at all. The same goes for a return from Hülkenberg. You can also say: "He has had his time. Now give a young talent a chance."