Formula 1 News

Alonso signs three-year deal with Ferrari 

As expected by many, the Ferrari F1 team has officially announced today that an agreement has been reached with double world champion Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard has signed a three-year deal with the Maranello based team and starting from the 2010 season he will take Kimi Raikkonen’s seat and partner with Felipe Massa. Giancarlo Fisichella will retain a test and reserve driver role.

“Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro announces that it has reached an agreement with the driver Fernando Alonso. The agreement covers three racing seasons, starting in 2010,” read the Ferrari statement.

“The Scuderia’s driver line-up next season will therefore be made up of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso, with Giancarlo Fisichella in the role of reserve driver.”

“Kimi Raikkonen will leave the team at the end of this current season, after what has been a rewarding and fruitful partnership, which saw him win the Drivers’ title in 2007. He also played a key role in Ferrari’s taking of the Constructor’s title that same year and in 2008.”

“We are very proud to welcome to our team another winning driver, who has demonstrated his amazing talent by winning two World Championships in his career to date,” said upon the announcement Stefano Domenicali. “Of course, we wish to thank Kimi for everything he has done during his time with Ferrari: in his first year with us, he managed to win the Drivers’ title, thus making his contribution to Ferrari’s history and he played a vital role in our taking of the Constructors’ title in 2007 and 2008. Even during a difficult season like this one, he has demonstrated his great talent, with several good results, including a great win in Spa and we are sure that we can share more good times together in the final three races of this season.”

“With common consent, we have agreed to terminate the contract binding me to Ferrari to the end of 2010, one year ahead of schedule,” explained Kimi Raikkonen. “I am very sad to be leaving a team with which I have spent three fantastic years, during which time I won plenty of races. Together, we have won 50% of the world titles in that period and I managed to take the Drivers’ title in 2007, thus achieving the target I had set myself at the start of my career. I have always felt at home with everyone here and I will have many happy memories of my time with the team.”

“I am very happy to be a Ferrari driver,” were Alonso‘s first words. “Driving a car of the Prancing Horse represents a dream for any racing driver, and now I have the opportunity to make this dream come true. I want to thank Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo, for pursuing this agreement,” he continued.

“During the past summer we had signed a contract from the 2011 season, but things have changed in the last days and we decided to anticipate by one year my arrival at Maranello,” he explained.

“All these years have been fantastic at Renault, we won four world championships (two drivers’ and two constructors’) and 17 of the 21 grands prix I have won so far have been with them. I wish the whole Renault team all the luck in the world.”

“After the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, all my energies will be focused on next year: I’m sure that, together with Felipe (Massa), we will give great joy to Ferrari and to its fan all over the world.”