The touchpaper was lit on the 2010 Formula One season when Ferrari confirmed the arrival of Fernando Alonso on a three-year contract.
It sets up an enthralling battle between the two outstanding drivers of their generation competing against each other for the two grandest teams in motor racing: Lewis Hamilton, of McLaren, against Ferrari’s Alonso.
Ferrari also announced that Kimi Raikkonen would make way for Alonso, leaving the Finn free to return to McLaren. But the internal Hamilton-Raikkonen dynamic is likely to be no more than a sideshow.
Instead, Hamilton v Alonso, a match-up lent added spice after their traumatic year together at McLaren two years ago, takes top billing - an echo of the Michael Schumacher v Mika Hakkinen rivalry at the turn of the decade. Daily Mail
“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,” Alonso said.
“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.” New York Times
“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 Ferrari team principal, 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.”
Raikkonen said: “With common consent, we have agreed to terminate the contract binding me to Ferrari to the end of 2010, one year ahead of schedule. 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 per cent 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.” The Independent
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