Alonso signs three-year deal with Ferrari

Ferrari have, finally, confirmed that they have signed Fernando Alonso on a three year deal. Tell us something we don’t know!

Alonso is pretty pleased with himself, as you can imagine, “I’m very happy and very proud to become a Ferrari driver. Driving a single-seater from the Prancing Horse is everybody’s dream in this sport and today I have the opportunity to make this dream come true. Above all I want to thank Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, who really wanted this 3-year contract.”

Stefano Domenicali is looking forward to Alonso’s input with F1’s most famous team, “We’re happy that we made this agreement with Fernando, who is not only a driver of great talent, but also victorious, as he has shown many times throughout his career, also under difficult conditions. His contribution will be very important to bring Ferrari back to the level where it has to be, to fight at the top.”

Alonso will be just the second Spanish driver to race for Ferrari.

Of course, the Alonso move will trigger a game of musical chairs around the F1 paddock. Already Kimi Raikkonen’s deal with Ferrari will end one year early and it is expected he will return to McLaren for the 2010 season. That will leave Heikki Kkovalainen looking for a drive, along with Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld who have some spare time ahead if they are unable to find seats after the departure of BMW from F1. It is expected Renault will pick up the services of Kubica to replace Alonso, with more driver musical chair rumours set to continue.

Meanwhile, injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is under no pressure to return to F1 this season, although his recovery is “proceeding in a very positive way”.

Press Release

Maranello, 30th September 2009 – Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro announces that it has reached an agreement with the driver Fernando Alonso. The agreement covers three racing seasons, starting in 2010.

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 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,” said 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.”