Alonso 'to sign for Honda'

Former champion on the move again

Last updated: 4th August 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Alonso 'to sign for Honda'

Alonso: Highly regarded

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Fernando Alonso is set to drive for Honda in 2009 as a stop-gap measure prior to a move to Ferrari a year later.

The former world champion is currently with Renault but The Guardian reports that the Spaniard is not only due to sign a $15m deal to drive alongside Jenson Button next year, but has already shaken hands on a deal to join Ferrari some time in the future.

Key to Alonso's switch to Honda is the appointment of former Ferrari team boss Ross Brawn, who has stated his high opinion of the former McLaren driver in the past.

Honda believe Alonso could be worth 0.6secs a lap and his test and development skills are just what the team requires with a raft of new aerodynamic rules, slick tyres and KERS energy regeneration systems being introduced in 2009.

Beyond that, his arrival at Ferrari is difficult to predict with world champion Kimi Raikkonen contracted through to the end of next year and Felipe Massa to 2010.