Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro has announced 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.
“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.”
Finally………
Go Teflonso !! Looking forward to a mega battle next year between him and Kimi next year, can’t wait!!
OMG what a surprise, never expected that! Just as shocking as Montoya and Alonso joining McLaren.
It will be interesting to see how KR performs in the next few races. It’s my belief that he only goes well when his back is against the wall, as in the last few races.
So I suppose his performance will depend on whether he’s got something else signed.
Well we all knew this was coming. I am hoping both McLaren and Ferrari cars will be competitive as there will be some great battles I hope.
In the meantime, I am guessing Alonso’s move will finally release the log jam in the driver market and we will get all sorts of announcements over the next few days and weeks.
Joe, or indeed esteemed fellow contributors. Anybody else know of a season where there has been so much driver movement?
When you read the press release you wonder why Kimi is leaving. And then you think back to the good old days when the Ferrari team was run by Enzo and it was never the cars fault why they never won. So as everything changes, nothing changes.
However, in a year where there has been so much C**P in F1, I look forward to the chaos that must result from racing with McLaren with Hamilton and Kimi, Ferrari with Massa and Alonso and a series devoid of Renault and Toyota.
No Max Mosley, Cosworth back, and so many new teams not making it to the grid. We are truly back to the Golden days of F1.
Interesting Kimi uses the word “sad” in relation to leaving Ferrari when he is usually very unemotional… this indicates more of a push than “mutual consent” – though I am sure the cash will alleviate some of the sadness… For me this illustrates some of the many things wrong with the sport – in that money has the loudest voice and honour and sportsmanship and racing take somewhat of a backseat.
Yeah so much for Ferrari being the last team he drives for!
@F1 Kitteh – I think the battle will be Hamilton vs Alonso as Kimi will have a hard time against Lewis – just my opinion though.
A
Who ended up paying Mr Raikkonen his gagillion dollars?
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It’s likely to produce more silliness. Poor Massa! Or if Massa is not fit to race – poor Fisico (maybe)!
I’m hearing ALO wants to take some Renault and McLaren people with him to Ferrari? You happen to know anything about it, Joe?
Yeah, I think we were all expecting that. The only move that makes me upset is that Brawn is possibly getting rid of Rubens. If you look at the season, Rubens has been way more consistent than Button. I don’t get it.
Drew, 6 wins to 2, I’d take Button especially after all the emotional outbursts by Rubens. It will be interesting to see if he pulls that sort of stunt at Williams. Can you imagine Patrick Head’s response to that sort of behaviour? At Brawn it will be Mercedes money and a German driver is needed. Watch Rosberg get blown into the weeds by Button, though. Methinks Nico is another Ralf Schumacher, he hasn’t shown any of the grit his old man was famous for, now there was a driver.
official driver statements like this one are full of bulldust,
how boring “and professional”
I would like to hear what he really thinks.
Now that would be entertaining !!!
Maybe something like this ?
” I am glad to leave this over budgeted , disorganised rabble , who cannot even stick to a contract, and get paid millions to do so, I would prefer to go rallying where there is less politics, less dodgy team orders that reduce the sport, and more hard core racing, but if they want to pay me millions and millions of Euros to stay in F1 who am I to argue? “
Yes! The word “sad” suggests to me that KR didn’t write it ~ more like a word SD would use.
Raikkonen & Hamilton at McLaren; Massa & Alonso at Ferrari; Button & Rosberg at Brawn!
It could be a classic season!
Alonso will have pre-season testing to familiarise himself with the seemingly awkward to drive Ferrari. I wonder how he would have managed had he been thrown in the deep end like Fisi and Badoer. I’d like to have known!
@ Chris- apparently Santander have financed Kimi’s severance payment.
Tony,
I like Button as well, but after the initial wins for the Brawn car, Rubens has shown that he can drive the car more effectively when the other teams are competitive. At the beginning of the season, Brawn had far and above the very best car. After the first one or two rounds of updates, the other cars had caught up, and that is when Jenson started slipping and Rubens came to the fore.