Alonso to leave Ferrari, says ex-boss
Following a mediocre season, Spaniard seems to have lost faith in Italian giants
MILAN: Spaniard Fernando Alonso is leaving Ferrari because he “can’t wait much longer” if he wants to win another world title, outgoing Ferarri chief Luca de Montezemolo confirmed on Thursday.
Former two-time world champion Alonso was widely rumoured to be leaving the Italian giants at the end of the current season, two years before his contract ends.
De Montezemolo, who recently quit his post as president of the company, confirmed to Italian television Rai that the Spaniard was leaving “for two reasons”.
“He’s leaving for two reasons. One is he want to test himself in another environment, and two because he’s at an age where he can’t wait much longer if he wants to triumph again.”
Alonso was said to have lost faith in Ferrari’s inability to produce a winning car. With three races of the championship remaining, he sits third in the drivers’ championship standings.
“It hurt him that he didn’t win this year and he needs fresh motivation,” added De Montezelomo.
Alonso’s contract with Ferrari was set to expire at the end of 2016, meaning he would leave two years short of its expiry. While speculation over the Spaniard’s future destination continues, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel is rumoured to be heading to Ferrari. MOSCOW: Top seed Milos Raonic suffered a setback in his hopes of qualifying for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals after he was beaten 6-3 4-6 6-3 by 116thranked journeyman Ricardas Berankis in the second round of the Kremlin Cup on Thursday. Berankis watched 15 aces from Raonic whistle past him but the Lithuanian qualifier broke the Canadian’s powerful serve four times to seal his first ever victory over a top 10 player. Raonic currently stands eighth in the “Race to London” for the end-of-season ATP World Tour Finals.