MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, Italy (AP) — Fernando Alonso pledged to finish his career with Ferrari on Thursday.
“This is 100 percent my last team,” Alonso said at Ferrari’s annual winter retreat in the Italian Dolomites. “I’m coming in much better prepared compared to my arrival at Renault and I’m ready for this big challenge. Ferrari is known the world over and we must win.”
Alonso, who starts a three-year contract with Ferrari, said he has not asked to be treated as the team’s top driver. That opens the way for a possible duel with teammate Felipe Massa.
“Driving for Ferrari was my dream as a child and now it has been realized,” Alonso said in the Gazzetta dello Sport. “It’s unbelievable to be part of this team — there’s a family feeling that you don’t find anywhere else.”
Like Michael Schumacher, Alonso comes to Ferrari already having won two titles. The Spaniard took the Formula One championship with Renault in 2005 and 2006.
Schumacher, who holds a seven record seven titles, has come out of retirement and will race for Mercedes this season.
“It’s positive for F1. Schumacher’s return can only do good,” Alonso said.