(Scuderia Ferrari SpA via Twitter)
Fernando Alonso has confirmed that he began to have doubts about his Ferrari future during the 2013 season. It was confirmed on Thursday that Alonso will leave the Italian team at the end of the season and will be replaced by Sebastian Vettel at the Maranello based outfit as Kimi Raikkonen's team mate as the German has signed a three year contract with the team.
Speaking at the FIA driver press conference in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, Alonso said:
'This is a new chapter in my career. It is time to find new projects and new motivations, but it was not an easy decision to make. Even last year, I had some doubts about 2014 and I decided to check how the new turbo era would go for Ferrari. I was very close to Luca di Montezemolo and we agreed that if we were not competitive I could think of other options. Then, in the summer break, I told the President I wanted to go.
I have to thank Ferrari so much, because they could have said ‘no,’ as there were two years left on my contract. It’s a true sign of the respect and love I have for this team. I stop now as a Ferrari driver, but from Monday I become a Ferrari supporter! Time will tell if my decision is good or bad.'
Alonso joined Ferrari in 2010, following his second spell with the Renault Formula One team replacing his current team mate Kimi Raikkonen at the team and despite coming close to winning the championship on three occasions with the team he failed to win a championship with the Prancing Horse.
It was announced at the end of last season that former Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen would be returning to the team replacing Felipe Massa in 2014 and he and Alonso despite a good working relationship in 2014 have endured a difficult season with the team having scored just two podium finishes which came courtesy of Alonso in China and again in Hungary.
© Ben Johnston 2014
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