MUST-SEE: Alonso drops in on F1 Pre-Season Testing

There was a swarm of photographers sweeping through the paddock on Tuesday, with one familiar face in the centre of it. Yes, double world champion Fernando Alonso, who left F1 at the end of last year but remains part of the McLaren family, was back.

Alonso has been filling his trophy cabinet since leaving, with the Spaniard adding victory in the Daytona 24 Hours to his long list of accolades. But though he’s parted ways with F1, his interest in the sport remains and he couldn’t resist swinging by during the second test.

It’s a social visit, with Alonso taking the opportunity to catch up with his former colleagues as well as listening in on engineering and team radio. And he wasn’t the only ex-McLaren driver in the house. His old team mate Stoffel Vandoorne popped by, too.

And former Racing Director Eric Boullier made his first appearance in the F1 paddock since leaving the British team last summer, having now taken on a role with the French Grand Prix promoter. For one day only, it was like McLaren were getting the band back together…