Alonso fans Santander sign Ferrari deal

Formula One champions Ferrari will be sponsored by Spanish bank Santander for the next five years, increasing speculation that Spain's Fernando Alonso will soon move to the Italian team.

The deal was announced at a news conference yesterday with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and Santander chairman Emilio Botin ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

Asked if he wanted the double world champion to join Ferrari next year, Alonso fan Botin said: "I can appoint directors at Santander but the decision on the drivers is for Luca di Montezemolo."

The F1 paddock has been full of rumours for months about Renault's Alonso replacing Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen next season and pairing up with Felipe Massa.

Montezemolo did not want to discuss the driver situation but when asked he barely mentioned Raikkonen, who has a year left on his contract.

"Today we are talking about the sponsorship agreement," he said.

"The Ferrari drivers are Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. I'm really happy with the latest news about Felipe. We know he won't just return as a driver, but he will be in top form next year.

"Good luck to Fernando this weekend."

Botin declined to give financial details of the Ferrari sponsorship, which will include logos on the car and drivers' overalls and will start in 2010, and would not say if their current sponsorship deal with rival team McLaren would end.