Alonso plans move to Ferrari

07-10-2009 | AFP

Spanish driver could leave Renault team as early as next season

Panama Star MADRID. Two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso is planning to switch from Renault to Ferrari for next year's F1 season, Spanish sports newspapers Marca and AS reported on Thursday.

Negotiations about the Spanish driver's transfer are close to completion and could become official at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, according to the reports, echoed by the Italian media.

The 27-year-old Spaniard won the driver's championships in 2005 and 2006 for Renault and is under contract with the French manufacturer until the end of next year, but with a get-out clause which he can activate earlier.

Alonso, currently ninth in the driver's championship table, has expressed dissatisfaction with Renault's under-performing R29 model,even though engineers say radical improvements are on the way.

According to the Spanish reports, Alonso has secured the backing of Spanish financial giant Banco de Santander to get a five-year deal with Ferrari.