Officially Official: Fernando Alonso signs with Ferrari F1 for three years
In a deal that seems to have been years in the making, Ferrari has finally made an official announcement: Fernando Alonso will be driving for the Prancing Horse in 2010. Rumors of Alonso going to the team from Maranello started back during the Spaniard's first stint with Renault, but circumstances with driver lineups didn't allow for it. Instead, Alonso went to McLaren for one very unhappy season before returning to France.
Since then, Alonso's fortunes have been mixed and stories of the Italian job have persisted. According to official statements from Ferrari today, an agreement had been reached earlier in the summer for Alonso to move to the Italian team in 2011. However, recent circumstances with the so-called Crashgate fiasco and the departure of team boss Flavio Briatore and sponsor ING have caused the date to be moved ahead a year. Alonso's Ferrari deal runs for three years.
As expected, current driver Kimi Raikkonen will be departing a year before the end of his contract, although his future remains uncertain. Recent rumors have had him returning to McLaren, although earlier this year it was thought he might switch to the World Rally Championship.
[Source: Ferrari | Source Image: Vanderlei AlmeidaAFP/Getty]
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." \
Fernando Alonso to Ferrari.com: "Very happy and very proud "
Maranello, 30 September 2009 - Fernando Alonso, just announced as the new official Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver, who will drive next to Felipe Massa as of the 2010 season, spoke to Ferrari.com: "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. We already had an agreement this summer starting in
2011, but then, the last days, the picture changed and we decided to anticipate my arrival in Maranello by one year.
The years at Renault were fantastic: together we won four World Titles (two Drivers' and as many Constructors' Championships) until this day, 21 Grands Prix. I wish the team all the best and let's hope we gain some good results in the last races this year.
After this season I will put all my effort in the next season: I'm sure that, together with Felipe, we'll offer Ferrari and the fans from all over the world some great satisfaction. I can't wait to start working with my new team."
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg "2011 Audi A8: Live from Miami")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
POV 1:33PM (9/30/2009)
Yes finally! Love him or hate him, he's an amazing driver and I've been dying to see what he could do in a Ferrari.
Reply
The Hit 11:13PM (10/01/2009)
No more excuses. If the "best driver in F1" doesn't deliver the WDC next year = fail.
POV 11:16PM (10/01/2009)
Oh come on... I think anyone should be given a year to get familiar with the team and the car. :)
kfj 1:37PM (9/30/2009)
Time to go back to just liking Ferraris street cars for 3 years.
Reply
mapoftazifosho 1:37PM (9/30/2009)
Anyone else find it ironic that it was the spring from HIS car that impaled Massa?
Reply
Guitar Hero 1:38PM (9/30/2009)
Er...what? The spring that went into Massa's head dropped from Rubens Barrichello's car.
Dennis Mendonca 1:40PM (9/30/2009)
I think it was from Barichello's Brawn F1 car
mapoftazifosho 1:49PM (9/30/2009)
Damn, I could have sworn that was Alonso's Renault that left the debris. Perhaps I am thinking about his flying wheel incident?
bitterspeak 3:28PM (9/30/2009)
You are wrong. Although Alonso did lose a wheel at that very track during raceday.
marcelcn 8:02PM (9/30/2009)
No, it was not from Alonso´s car. It was from Rubens Barichelo´s.
Matt 10:05PM (9/30/2009)
Spring was from Ruben's car, Alonso had a wheel come off after a pitstop when the aerodynamic device ("spinner"?) wasn't locked into place and spun around, undoing the nut
mariahanz 5:19PM (10/31/2009)
How nice to blame everything on Nando, your personal hate figure? Looks like you didnt even watch the right race. The spring came from Rubens's Brawn GP car.
http://www.alonso-planet.com
Guitar Hero 1:38PM (9/30/2009)
I just got a boner. Spanish F1 fans have wanted this for...almost 5 years (since he won his first WDC). It's almost like a dream.
Reply
auto.design 1:39PM (9/30/2009)
I've never been his biggest fan, but glad he's joining the Scuderia. I'm gonna miss Kimi though...
Reply
Brad 5:08PM (9/30/2009)
Same here. Kimi is my favorite driver so I was so glad when he joined Ferrari. I was also happy to see him win his championship in a Ferrari.
Hopefully he can get back to being that fearless driver that he was at McLaren and come up with more drives like the 2004? Japanese GP.
Like him or not Alonso can really drive especially when the car is not as good as it should be.
firdaus riyanto 9:16PM (11/25/2009)
Kimi's most amazing moment, in my opinion, was the belgian gp in 2004. It was his most amazing win; chasing down Michael Schumacher and passing him at Eau Rogue at full speed. Simply brilliant!
Kimi is a very competitive driver. Give him the best car and he'll just gives you quick times lap after lap. It was apparent when he drove to his world championship, and the 2003 and 2005 season when he came in second respectively to Schumacher and Alonso.
But, having said that, give him a mediocre car and he won't even bother.
I hope Kimi gets a good car to drive next season, he deserves one.
reverfons 2:12PM (9/30/2009)
be sure that we will see him wining again the wolrd championship, IMO he's the best driver on race in actual f1 grid
Reply
Hootan 5:12PM (9/30/2009)
you're right, he's still the most complete, Schumi-like driver. As with Schumi, I don't like Alonso's character very much, what with the whole spy-gate crap. But you cannot argue with his ruthless drive to win. This should be very interesting.
sfast 2:30PM (9/30/2009)
disappointed.
As if Ferrari wasn't already labeled as a bunch of whiners, then they go out and sign the biggest whiner of them all.
Reply
Venom 2:33PM (9/30/2009)
This caption is hilarious.
I am dying laughing.
Reply