Ferrari reaches agreement to sign driver Fernando Alonso from 2010, replacing Kimi Raikkonen

Ferrari reaches Alonso deal to replace Raikkonen

MARANELLO, Italy — Ferrari reached an agreement to sign driver Fernando Alonso on Wednesday, replacing Kimi Raikkonen starting next season.

The Formula One team said in a statement it’s a three-year agreement with the two-time world champion.

“I am delighted and very proud to become a Ferrari driver,” Alonso said. “Driving for Ferrari is a dream for anyone who takes part in this sport, and today I am lucky enough to realize that dream.”

Alonso and Felipe Massa will be Ferrari’s drivers next year. Giancarlo Fisichella will act as backup.

“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,” the statement read. “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.”

Alonso will join Ferrari from Renault, with whom he won the F1 title in 2005 and ‘06. His best finish so far this year is third place at last week’s Singapore Grand Prix.

Raikkonen joined Ferrari in 2007 from McLaren, winning the title in his first year and finishing third in 2008. He is fifth in the driver’s championship, 44 points behind leader Jenson Button. The Finn is expected to return to McLaren.

“With common consent, we have agreed to terminate the contract binding me to Ferrari to the end of 2010, one year ahead of schedule,” Raikkonen said. “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.

“I have always felt at home with everyone here and I will have many happy memories of my time with the team.”

It has been a poor year by Ferrari’s high standards. Raikkonen recorded the team’s first podium finish at the Monaco GP, the sixth race of the year, and earned its only win at the Belgium GP.

In July, Massa was sidelined for the rest of the season following a life-threatening accident at the Hungarian GP.

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher was brought back to replace Massa, but ended the comeback because of a neck injury. Test driver Luca Badoer competed in the European and Belgian races before Giancarlo Fisichella was brought in for the rest of the season from Force India.