F1 News: Is Fernando Alonso going to test the new McLaren MCL34 at Barcelona?

'El Nino' may have hung his racing gear in Formula 1 in 2018 after bidding adieu to a sport he took to great heights in what was clearly, a sensational career.

But the racer in him is alive and thriving.

If you are a die-hard fan or even someone who's remotely interested in the racing contests outside of F1, you'd know why.

At 37, there seems to be no stopping the famous Spaniard, who, in the previous F1 season, was the second-oldest to 'The Iceman' Kimi Raikkonen on the grid.

Driving what was then a clearly recalcitrant McLaren- the justifications from the team may not serve any purpose ever- he still managed a couple of stunning feats, one of which was a brilliant P5 at the season-opener at Melbourne, an effort that was followed by a hat-trick of P3 finishes at Sakhir, Shanghai, and Baku respectively.

But in the more recent past, after surprising one and all- perhaps including critics of his McLaren move but well, not actually fans who'd never let him go astray- Fernando who won at Daytona, Rolex 24 has something more exciting on offer.

It appears, according to certain reports that the former double-world champion could well test the MCL34.

Yeah, you read that right. Are you surprised?

Given certain reports that are floating at this point in time, it seems that Fernando Alonso could be back in a McLaren in the coming weeks.

Now just imagine what might have been the scenario wherein the 2005 and 2006 World Champion was to actually return in 2019 itself?

But fantasies be darned, the 2019 line-up is already set and ready to go with newbie Lando Norris and noted Alonso-fan Carlos Sainz Jr. (a driver with 81 race starts against his name) all set to attempt a McLaren revival.

In lines with the above, it is worthwhile to note that McLaren’s new challenger will be in action at the Circuit de Catalunya on February 18 as pre-season testing gets underway in Spain.