Montezemolo: 'Alonso wants to win again'

MARANELLO, Italy - Fernando Alonso is leaving Ferrari at the end of 2014 because he wants a fresh environment and needs to be winning again, reports the Formula 1 team's ex-chairman Luca di Montezemolo.

Ferrari has yet to confirm Alonso is leaving, although it has been taken for granted in the sport since quadruple World champion Sebastian Vettel announced in October that he was leaving Red Bull at the end 2014.

Vettel has also yet to say where he is going, although Red Bull principal Christian Horner said its ace driver is moving to Maranello.

'HE CANNOT WAIT TO WIN'

Montezemolo told Italy's RAI television: "Fernando is leaving for two reasons. One because he wants to cement himself in another environment. And two because he's at an age where he cannot wait to win again.

"He has been disappointed not to have won (the title) in these years and he needs a new stimulus."

Montezemolo left Ferrari on Monday (Oct16), handing over to the boss of parent company Fiat Sergio Marchionne.

Alonso, a double World champion with Renault, joined Ferrari in 2010 and has finished runner-up in the championship in three of the past four years.

Ferrari has not won a race in more than a year and are currently fourth overall and heading for their first winless season since 1993. Alonso is expected to return to McLaren, the team he left after one fraught season in 2007 when Lewis Hamilton was his team mate.

Alonso told reporters at the 2014 Russian GP that his choice would be obvious once announced and he was unlikely to be driving a car with a Mercedes engine.

BUTTON'S FUTURE IN DOUBT

He added that there was no big risk of him not having a drive in F1 in 2015. Former champions McLaren are starting a new partnership with Honda in 2015.

Alonso's return to McLaren would cast a question mark over Jenson Button's future in F1, with the 2009 World champion out of contract at the end of 2014.

Button told reporters at the Russian GP that he was relaxed about the future: "I'm no longer annoyed when people keep asking me. I was (annoyed) at the last race, but I am more relaxed with it. It is getting so close to the end of the season, it is actually getting funny.

"But I'm not worried or scared with regard to whatever direction I go in in the future."