Ferrari have confirmed that Fernando Alonso is to join them next season on a three-year contract.
Spaniard to join Scuderia with Raikkonen making way
Ferrari have confirmed that Fernando Alonso is to join them next season on a three-year contract.
The Spaniard will partner Felipe Massa, meaning that the team's 2007 world champion, Kimi Raikkonen, must look for a drive elsewhere.
The much-anticipated move sees Alonso leave Renault, the team with whom he won back-to-back world championships in 2005 and 2006.
In a press statement, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said: "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.
"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.
Fantastic
"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 added: "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."
Raikkonen has recently been linked with a return to McLaren, for whom he raced between 2002 and 2006.
Meanwhile, Robert Kubica is tipped to leave BMW Sauber - the German manufacturer scheduled to withdraw its support at the end of the season - and take Alonso's place at Renault.
Giancarlo Fisichella, who joined Ferrari to deputise for the injured Massa in the final races of the current season, is confirmed as their reserve driver next season.
