Home » Sports » Motor Racing
Alonso pledges to finish his career with Ferrari
Source: Agencies |
January 15, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FERNANDO Alonso is planning to finish his career with Ferrari.
Speaking at Ferrari's annual winter retreat in the Italian Dolomites yesterday, the newly signed Alonso said he was "100 percent" sure this would be his last team.
Beginning a three-year contract with Ferrari, Alonso added that he has not asked to be treated as the team's top driver, opening the way for a possible duel with teammate Felipe Massa.
According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, the Spaniard said he dreamed of driving for Ferrari as a child and being part of the team provided a "family feeling that you don't find anywhere else."
Ferrari meanwhile is planning to use Michael Schumacher's move to Mercedes as motivation this season.
"We've got to move on, but it will provide extra motivation. We've got to show Michael that this is the best team," team director Stefano Domenicali said.
"It wouldn't be accurate to think that what happened didn't leave an emotional mark," Domenicali added. "We noticed that Ferrari fans - and not just the Italian ones - did not receive Michael's choice very well. But we also shouldn't forget what he did for Ferrari and what Ferrari did for him."
Schumacher retired from racing after the 2006 season, having won five of his seven Formula One titles with Ferrari. The German remained a special adviser with Ferrari for the past three years but then announced his return to racing with Mercedes last month.
At 41, some have questioned whether Schumacher can still win races.
"We know that Michael is a very, very good driver, and if he's decided to take on this challenge I'm sure he's convinced he'll show us he's up to the task," Domenicali said.
Ferrari is coming off one of its worst seasons in years. The Maranello outfit finished a disappointing fourth in the constructors' standings and Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella finished sixth, 11th and 15th in the drivers' ranks.
Fisichella replaced Massa midseason after the Brazilian nearly lost his life in a crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Speaking at Ferrari's annual winter retreat in the Italian Dolomites yesterday, the newly signed Alonso said he was "100 percent" sure this would be his last team.
Beginning a three-year contract with Ferrari, Alonso added that he has not asked to be treated as the team's top driver, opening the way for a possible duel with teammate Felipe Massa.
According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, the Spaniard said he dreamed of driving for Ferrari as a child and being part of the team provided a "family feeling that you don't find anywhere else."
Ferrari meanwhile is planning to use Michael Schumacher's move to Mercedes as motivation this season.
"We've got to move on, but it will provide extra motivation. We've got to show Michael that this is the best team," team director Stefano Domenicali said.
"It wouldn't be accurate to think that what happened didn't leave an emotional mark," Domenicali added. "We noticed that Ferrari fans - and not just the Italian ones - did not receive Michael's choice very well. But we also shouldn't forget what he did for Ferrari and what Ferrari did for him."
Schumacher retired from racing after the 2006 season, having won five of his seven Formula One titles with Ferrari. The German remained a special adviser with Ferrari for the past three years but then announced his return to racing with Mercedes last month.
At 41, some have questioned whether Schumacher can still win races.
"We know that Michael is a very, very good driver, and if he's decided to take on this challenge I'm sure he's convinced he'll show us he's up to the task," Domenicali said.
Ferrari is coming off one of its worst seasons in years. The Maranello outfit finished a disappointing fourth in the constructors' standings and Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella finished sixth, 11th and 15th in the drivers' ranks.
Fisichella replaced Massa midseason after the Brazilian nearly lost his life in a crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
