Alonso planned 'escape' last yearposted in F120 | 11 | 2014

    McLAREN-BOUND FERNANDO ALONSO has admitted he started considering his escape route from the ailing Ferrari team midway through the 2013 season.

    On the eve of his final grand prix with the Maranello-based team, the double world champ — who informed Ferrari he was leaving in September — confirmed he'd discussed his future with president Luca di Montezemolo at the end of last year.

    "It was not a special moment of the year that I opened my eyes," the Spaniard, speaking in Abu Dhabi today, said. "Last year I had some doubts about 2014.

    "I knew it was a big change of regulations, so I thought the best thing to check was how the 2014 new turbo era was going for Ferrari.

    "I had a very close relationship with president (Luca) di Montezemolo. We talked every week and we more or less agreed that if this year we were not competitive again, we could think of different options.

    Related: Ferrari confirms Vettel for 2015

    "In the summer break it was time to sit with the president and say, 'OK, I would like to go'."

    And on the day Ferrari confirmed Alonso was being replaced by four-time world champ Sebastian Vettel, the Spaniard reflected on a season which has been the worst since he joined the team. It's his first winless season since 2009.

    "Obviously it's a new chapter in my career," Alonso stated, "and I think I felt it was the time to find new projects, new motivation. It was not an easy decision to make.

    "I was in talks even last year, to be honest, and we waited for this year, the new car, the new turbo era, and this year I felt around summertime/September that it was time to move, and I made the decision.

    "Only time will tell if it is a good one or bad one.

    "I am so happy, so proud to have those five years with this amazing team. I grew up as a driver and a person.

    "We missed the championship, came second three times, but I'm extremely proud of those second places and the work we did those years.

    "Now it is time to close one door and open a new one and we see how it goes. I stop as a Ferrari driver but from Monday I am a Ferrari supporter."

    Related: Lewis Hamilton clinches 2014 F1 world title

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    Jim McGill

     

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