Alonso says unplanned V8 reunion showed F1 is "missing noise"

Fernando Alonso has said his reunion with a V8 engine in his unplanned 2013 McLaren drive in Bahrain was "very special" but showed him Formula One is missing noisier cars.

Alonso made a rather surprising return to a Formula One cockpit in Bahrain on Monday, less than 24 hours after retiring in Abu Dhabi.

It was part of a promotional day, where he swapped cars with seven-time NASCAR Cup winner Jimmie Johnson.

Alonso drove a 2013 Mercedes-powered McLaren after a late request and to compare it to the current sound of the V6 turbo-hybrids, that were introduced four years ago.

"It was not planned to be honest," Alonso said to Motorsport. "I was supposed to only drive the other car but it made sense if I was doing the installation lap just to make sure the car was feeling OK.