The year's (second) worst kept secret has been confirmed by Ferrari as it reveals that Fernando Alonso is to leave the team.

"Fernando Alonso leaves the team at the end of this season, after a five year period which, with one race remaining, saw him score 1186 points, 44 podiums and 11 wins," said the Italian team in a statement.

"In the Scuderia Ferrari roll of honour of great drivers, Fernando Alonso will always occupy a special place," said Team Principal, Marco Mattiacci. "We offer him our heartfelt thanks for what has been an extraordinary adventure with the Scuderia, when in the past five years, he twice came so close to winning the world championship. I am sure that a great driver like Fernando will always hold the Prancing Horse dear to his heart and I also expect the Ferrari fans will continue to hold him in high regard in his future endeavours."

"Today is not an easy one for me, because even if I always look to the future with great enthusiasm and determination, at the end of this season my journey as a Ferrari driver will come to an end," said Alonso. "It was a difficult decision to take, but a carefully considered one and from start to finish, my love for Ferrari was a prime consideration. I have always been lucky enough to make my own decisions about my future and I have that possibility now too. I must thank the team for that, as it understood my position. I leave Scuderia Ferrari after five years, during which I reached my very best level professionally, tackling major challenges that pushed me to find new limits. I also proved to be a true team-player, putting the interests of the Scuderia before my own.

"When I had to take important decisions about my future, I did so with Ferrari in my heart, driven by my love for the team. I am very proud of what we have achieved together. Thanks to the efforts of the men and women of Maranello, on three occasions we came second in the Formula 1 World Championship, two of them fighting for the title right up to and including the final race, running in a championship winning position for many laps. Without a shadow of a doubt, these five years produced some of the best moments of my career and I also feel that, in leaving the team, it is family rather than friends I am leaving behind. Now I look to the future with great enthusiasm, knowing that part of my heart will always belong to the Prancing Horse. I want to thank each and everyone of the team for the trust they showed in me."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Hondawho?, 21/11/2014 11:26

"I remember the look of anger on RD's face when Alonso walked out of that pit box back in 2007, I have never seen such an angry guy. I will be surprised if Alsonso drives for McLaren and if he does it will be because Honda want him there not RD. We wait and see.........$$$$$ are everything but in RD, I am not so sure, I have a feeling that its an "every dog has his day" situation and the outcome will be interesting."

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2. Posted by ACanuck, 20/11/2014 15:37

"Hopefully this is going to be a good move for Alonso, but I can't help but think the stilted, scripted statements from he and the team are just so corporately bland and bloodless. If there is any passion left in F1, it appears nobody is allowed to acknowledge or talk about it. The whole experience (very quiet cars, stage-managed passing zones, environmentally friendly) is firmly in line with Mr. Ecclestone's geriatric approach to top-tier motorsport: it won't distract or upset the over-70 set, so they can keep their eyes on the expensive stuff the sponsors want them to buy. It's like the old Lawrence Welk show: Supreme artifice and rather pointless."

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Official: Alonso to leave Ferrari

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