Fernando Alonso already feels a part of the 'family' at Ferrari as he prepares for his first race in the famous red car.
Spaniard 'feeling calm' ahead of new season
Fernando Alonso already feels a part of the 'family' at Ferrari as he prepares for his first race in the famous red car.
The Spaniard has spent the last three years of his Formula One career in the wilderness following back-to-back titles for Renault in 2005 and 2006.
A year at McLaren proved to be disastrous before he returned to a largely uncompetitive Renault team where little success came his way.
But Ferrari rescued him when they paid off the final year of Kimi Raikkonen's contract to fast-track Alonso into the number one seat, albeit on a level playnig field with the returning Felipe Massa.
"For any driver, coming to Ferrari is the best thing you can do in your career," Alonso said.
"It's almost impossible to find the motivation to race for another team after racing for Ferrari because you will never find the same environment or have the same feeling due to its history.
"From day one I've found myself at home at the team. There has been like a family feeling from the start.
"When I went to Maranello I saw the passion of the people that are working at Ferrari. It is something unique in Formula One.
"It's a legendary team represented by the prancing horse. I now feel calm because I've achieved one of my goals."
Rivalry
The renewal of his rivalry with Michael Schumacher merely adds to Alonso's inner passion, in particular as he is now the man at Ferrari where the 41-year-old German achieved so much of his historic success.
"We were rivals in the last two years of his career, and intense rivals in 2006 with fights until the last lap in Brazil," recalled Alonso. "For him, he will be motivated to win the eighth title he wanted to win in 2006.
"And now I'm at Ferrari, where he has raced and won, of course it's a motivation for me to win here, to have the sensations he had for many years.
"Clearly since Michael left, there has been this lack of motivation on my part."
It is a stark admission from Alonso, who has no doubts - although he is perhaps trying to convince himself - Schumacher will be the driver of old.
"Michael has been one of the best in Formula One, so I don't think much will have changed from 38 to 41," assessed Alonso.
"I can understand why he has returned because for a driver who has raced at the highest level for 20 years, to then stay home is not easy.
"I'm happy he's returning, I'm happy for the sport. It's extremely positive for Formula One. I think 2010 is going to be interesting for the fans."
