The threat of a breakaway series, the recent race-fixing scandal and the future of a number of manufacturers, including BMW, Toyota and Renault, all slowed things down considerably this year, but nothing held up events quite as much as the uncertainty over the future of Alonso.

That now appears to be resolved. The two-time world champion, who is under contract with Renault until 2010 but has the option of leaving at the end of this year, will reportedly sign a five-year contract with Ferrari worth £23  million a season, with the option to extend for a further year.

Fernando Alonso said:

I feel happy for being a Ferrari Pilot. To drive the car of the “Cavallino Rampante” is a dream for any F1 pilot, and today I am lucky for achieve it. I want to greet Luca de Montezmolo, Ferrari’s president to strive to reach this agreement. During past summer we signed a contract to begin our relation on 2011, but last days the situation changed and we decided to bring forward my arrival to Maranello.

All those years on Renault had been fantastic, all together we have won four world championships and 17 of the 21 GP that I have until now have been with Renault. I hope all the Renault team good luck and I also want to win all te possible points from now to the end of the season. Once the GP of Abu Dabi is over, all my strength will be focused on next year. I am sure that together with Felipe we will give Ferrari and all his supporters around the world great joy.