Alonso hopes to end career at Ferrari

Double world champion Fernando Alonso hopes to see out his Formula One career at Ferrari after he leaves Renault to join the Italian glamour team next season.

Speaking a day after Ferrari announced the Spaniard had signed a three-year deal, Alonso told a scrum of reporters at the Japanese Grand Prix that he hoped to stay well beyond that.

"I really think that Ferrari will be my last team," he said.

"Leaving Ferrari to change team is always a step backwards. It has to be a step backwards because Ferrari is more than a team and I want to finish my career with them," added the 28-year-old.

Alonso, who won his two titles with Renault under now banned team boss Flavio Briatore, said the move was a dream come true.

"I am extremely happy and ready for the challenge in 2010," he said.

"I think Ferrari and I share many things together, like the passion for competition, to give 100 per cent every race and I think it was the best destination of my career."

Alonso, who raced for Ferrari's great rivals McLaren in 2007, rejected media reports that he wanted to take some mechanics and engineers with him.

He added that he did not yet know who his race engineer would be or when he would start at Maranello.

"I have no plan to bring anyone there. I think in Ferrari they are professional enough and have the best people in Formula One so they will be able to do the best car," he said.

Alonso, the first Spaniard to race for Ferrari since Alfonso de Portago in 1957, said he could already feel the emotion of driving for the sport's oldest and most successful team and hoped to be able to bring them something as well.

"Hopefully I can give to them the maximum performance in the car, and outside the car I can be part of the team."

The Spaniard replaces Kimi Raikkonen, Finland's 2007 world champion, at Ferrari alongside Felipe Massa. He said his relationship with the Brazilian was very good and looked forward to working with him.

"We are both Latin...and I think this will be good," he said.

"Also Felipe has been in the team for many years now and he can help me a lot to adapt to the team as quick as possible."