Thread: Ferrari officially confirmed 3 year deal with Alonso

I think they asked him to leave. They knew Kimi was gone as soon as his contract was up, so why not buy him out of the contract, and make room for someone who has the potential to be much more long term.

I wonder how much Kimi's contract buyout was, as well as how much alonso's contract is.

-Markus-

The interesting thing is Santander (Spanish Bank) is a mutual sponsor of McLaren and now Ferrari. Speculation is that they were involved with the negotiations.

I also don't believe it was all Ferrari's choice. Raikkonen was unhappy with the performance of the 2009 car and lack of development.

from F1.com

Ferrari finally confirmed on Wednesday that Fernando Alonso will race for the team next season, replacing Kimi Raikkonen as Felipe Massa’s team mate. Giancarlo Fischella will continue in the role of reserve driver.

Alonso, who has spent the bulk of his Formula One career with Renault, has signed a three-year agreement with Ferrari, starting in 2010.

“I’m very happy and very proud to become a Ferrari driver,” said the Spaniard. “Driving a single-seater from the Prancing Horse is everybody’s dream in this sport and today I have the opportunity to make this dream come true. Above all I want to thank Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, who really wanted this three-year contract.

“We already had an agreement this summer starting in 2011, but then, the last days, the picture changed and we decided to anticipate my arrival in Maranello by one year. The years at Renault were fantastic: together we won four world titles (two drivers’ and as many constructors’ championships), and until this day, 21 Grands Prix.

"I wish the team all the best and let’s hope we gain some good results in the last races this year. After this season I will put all my effort in the next season: I’m sure that, together with Felipe, we’ll offer Ferrari and the fans from all over the world some great satisfaction. I can’t wait to start working with my new team.”

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali added: “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.”

Alonso made his Formula One debut in 2001 with Minardi, before becoming Renault’s official test driver the following season. In 2003 he was promoted to a race seat and became F1 racing’s youngest Grand Prix winner with victory. By the end of 2005 he was also its youngest champion.

He successfully defended his title in 2006, fending off a resurgent Michael Schumacher in the latter half of the season, before taking his number one with him to McLaren for 2007, where he endured a tempestuous year alongside Lewis Hamilton.

Alonso returned to Renault for 2008, scoring two race wins, despite a less than competitive car. This season the team have been off the pace once more, with Alonso taking just one podium to date, at the last round in Singapore.

He will become only the second Spanish driver to compete for Ferrari, following in the footsteps of Alfonso de Portago, who raced for the team in 1956 and 1957.

Raikkonen has yet to confirm his plans for 2010.

I think speed said something along $25mil to buyout his contract.
It just doesn't make sense when they have 2 great drivers and waste all this money to get Alonso.

Kimi has been performing well and could be in contention for the championship if Ferrari had a competitive car. He won Spa because well Kimi is just amazing there.

He has been consistently getting points for Ferrari making up for Massa's injury. Ferrari is basically driving the rest of the season with Kimi alone.

Luca Badoer was......and Fisichella is not performing well...

in a somewhat related topic
from f1.com

Kimi Sad to Leave Ferrari
Following news that he is to part company with Ferrari at the end of the season, Kimi Raikkonen has spoken of his sadness at leaving the Italian team. Raikkonen’s place at Ferrari will be taken by current Renault driver Fernando Alonso, who will join Felipe Massa and reserve driver Giancarlo Fisichella.

Raikkonen has been with Ferrari since joining from McLaren in 2007. That season he clinched the drivers’ title and over his three years at the team has taken nine race victories, five pole positions and 225 world championship points.

“With common consent, we have agreed to terminate the contract binding me to Ferrari to the end of 2010, one year ahead of schedule,” said the Finn. “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 percent 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.”

Paying tribute to Raikkonen, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali commented: “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.

“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, 29, has yet to reveal his plans for 2010.

Originally Posted by TechArt Dreamer

I wonder how much Kimi's contract buyout was, as well as how much alonso's contract is.

Kimi was one years pay.

Alonso 3 years..80 mil and change.

Just got a text, Kimi was getting 49mil a year, for the three years he was with Ferrari. Alonso will be paid 36mil a year, and Ferrari is paying Kimi 65mil to buy him out of his contract.

Wow.

-Markus-

Source: Autosport.

Kimi Raikkonen says he is yet to decide if he will continue racing in Formula 1 next year after it was announced he will not be at Ferrari.

The former world champion, who joined Ferrari in 2007 and went on to win the title, will be replaced by Fernando Alonso from next year, despite having a contract that run out at the end of 2010.

Although Raikkonen has been linked with a return to McLaren, the Finn admitted he is still thinking about whether he wants to race on in F1 or not.

"So far I have not talked too much about what I will do next, as I still have time to make my decision and I will let you know when I have," Raikkonen said ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

"For the moment, I haven't decided what I want to do next, whether I want to continue racing or not. I had a contract for next year, but now I don't, so that changes things. So maybe I race, maybe I do not."

He said switching to the World Rally Championship was a possibility.

"Yes, there's a chance to do that, but there's as much of a chance that I continue in Formula 1. I will decide before the start of next year for sure! If I do decide to stay in Formula 1, I wouldn't go to any of the small teams, where I would not have the chance to fight for the championship.

"If I race next year, that would be my goal, otherwise there is no reason to be in Formula 1. I achieved what I wanted, but if I race, then of course, I want to win more races and championship titles."

Raikkonen said there were many factors for his decision to agree to terminate his contract early, and insisted he was pleased with his call.

"There are many reasons why this has happened," said the Finn ahead of the Japanese GP. "In F1, even if you have a contract, there can always be different options in life. There is not just one reason why this happened and we all reached the same decision.

"I'm still happy with what I have done in making this decision and I think I will still have a good future. Usually when you make a contract, you stick with it to the end, but there were reasons why it did not work out, but I'm okay with how things have turned out."

He added: "I have nothing bad to say about them as we always had a good relationship. I don't think anyone expected Ferrari to have this sort of season, which turned out to be so difficult. But this can happen in F1 sometimes, when you don't deliver a car capable of always being at the front, but this is just one year and we will wait and see what happens next.

"I would not have done anything different: of course I would like to win more races, but in terms of decisions about my life, I would not do anything differently to the way I have done it. I am happy with what I have achieved, even if whenever you look back, you think you might have done things differently, but that's easy to say when you look back.

"But in terms of contracts and so on, I would not do anything different. With Ferrari, I have achieved what I set out to do in winning the title.

"We had good times and sometimes more difficult times, but that's part of this business and you just have to get through those moments. We won many championships, one for me, two for the team and I have happy memories."

^wow Kimi to WRC would be sickkk!