Following over two years of speculation, Ferrari has finally confirmed Fernando Alonso will join the team in 2010, replacing former world champion Kimi Räikkönen, to partner Brazil's Felipe Massa at the prestigious team. Alonso, who has drive for Minardi, Renault and McLaren in the past, has been signed on a three-year deal, reportedly with an option for a fourth year.

Alonso has been linked to Ferrari as far back as September 2007, when his relationship with McLaren fell further into disarray, but returned to Renault for 2008. With two world championships under his belt, Alonso is statistically the most successful driver on the current grid, but arrives following two lean seasons at an underperforming Renault.

“We're happy that we made this agreement with Fernando, who is not only a driver of great talent, but also victorious, as he has shown many times throughout his career, also under difficult conditions,” said Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali.

“His contribution will be very important to bring Ferrari back to the level where it has to be, to fight at the top.”

Alonso's confirmation brings to five the number of drivers with confirmed seats on the 2010 grid, while Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella have already been confirmed by Ferrari as race and test drivers respectively.

Despite Räikkönen holding a contract with Ferrari for 2010, as announced at Monza just over 12 months ago, it was decided by both parties to end the deal prematurely. The Finn is expected to be unveiled as Lewis Hamilton's team-mate at McLaren in the near future.