Formula One’s Alonso to join Ferrari in 2010

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

One of the worst-kept secrets in Formula One came to fruition today as Ferrari announced that two-time champion Fernando Alonso would join the team next year, replacing 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen. Ferrari said it signed a three-year agreement with Alonso, 28, who currently drives for the scandal-plagued Renault team with which the Spaniard won the championship in 2005 and 2006. He’ll join Ferrari’s other driver, Felipe Massa, who is recovering from serious head injuries suffered during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix in July.’We are very proud to welcome to our team another winning driver,’ Ferrari said in a statement. Alonso, in turn, said he was ‘very happy and very proud to become a Ferrari driver.’

Alonso would become only the second Spanish driver to compete for Ferrari, along with Alfonso de Portago in 1956-57, according to Formula One.

‘I can’t wait to start working with my new team,’ Alonso said. He also thanked Renault, adding that ‘I wish the team all the best, and let’s hope we gain some good results in the last races this year.’

Alonso is eighth in the point standings this year, and his best finish was third at last week’s Singapore Grand Prix.

Renault recently said that it would not contest charges of race-fixing in which former Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr. said he was ordered to purposefully crash in last year’s Singapore Grand Prix to help Alonso, who went on to win the race. Alonso, who later told reporters he knew nothing about the alleged incident, was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Raikkonen, who is expected to return to his previous team of McLaren Mercedes, also has struggled this year. The Finn has only one win, the Belgian Grand Prix, and is fifth in the title standings.

-- Jim Peltz