Fernando Alonso says sharing a podium with fellow Spaniard Carlos Sainz would be "a dream" in 2021.

The double world champion returns to Formula 1 with the rebranded Alpine team next season after a two-year absence, replacing the McLaren-bound Daniel Ricciardo.

In preparation, Alonso has been testing both the 2018 and 2020 car, including a controversial outing at the Abu Dhabi 'young driver' test earlier this month.

But on his aspirations for 2021, and after seeing both Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon step on the rostrum this year, Alonso does see an opportunity to add to his 97 career podiums.

"What would I be happy with? I have no targets in terms of a specific position," he told Spain's Cadena SER.

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"It would be good to get on the podium. This season it seemed that there were more possibilities than in other years for the rest of the teams, but I am aware that those podiums only came because of disasters at Mercedes.

"Securing a podium and savouring the champagne again would be fantastic. It is conceivable and it would be a dream to be on a podium with Carlos Sainz."

Of course, for that to happen Sainz's new team Ferrari would need a much-improved year, with Charles Leclerc claiming the Scuderia's only two top-three finishes of 2020.

Meanwhile, for Alpine, third in the Constructors' standings is the most realistic goal for 2021, having finished just 21 points behind McLaren this year.

But with the introduction of all-new cars the following year, Alonso reaffirmed his wish to be back challenging at the front.

"Next season there will be a continuation of Mercedes’ dominance, but in 2022 we have high hopes," he said.

"The objective is clear – 2021 is a year of preparation, of integration with the team during which some podiums would be fantastic.

"But in 2022 with the change of regulation, we can dream of winning and being up there again."