Fernando Alonso Ferrari Exit Confirmed and Explained by Luca Di Montezemolo

Former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo has effectively confirmed Fernando Alonso's exit from the Formula One outfit, providing details of the driver's reasons to terminate his contract two years early.

Although official word is yet to come from either Alonso or Ferrari, Di Montezemolo has told Italian network RAI (h/t Sky Sports) the Spaniard has higher ambitions than what's been achieved of late:

"Alonso is leaving for two reasons: One, he wants another environment. Two, because he is an age when he cannot wait to win again. ... He was disappointed that he has not won over these last years and wanted new stimulus."

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Since joining Ferrari in 2010, Alonso has managed to finish second in the world standings on three occasions (2010, 2012 and 2013), but he is currently enduring his worst campaign with the Italian giants, sitting in sixth with three races left in 2014.

It's far from the hopes he would have held upon joining after winning world titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006. McLaren appears to be his most likely destination.

Season	Series	Team	Races	Wins	Poles	Podiums	Points	Position
2001	Formula One	European Minardi F1 Team	17	0	0	0	0	23rd
2002	Formula One	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team	Test Driver					Test Driver
2003	Formula One	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team	16	1	2	4	55	6th
2004	Formula One	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team	18	0	1	4	59	4th
2005	Formula One	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team	19	7	6	15	133	1st
2006	Formula One	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team	18	7	6	14	134	1st
2007	Formula One	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	17	4	2	12	109	3rd
2008	Formula One	ING Renault F1 Team	18	2	0	3	61	5th
2009	Formula One	ING Renault F1 Team	17	0	1	1	26	9th
2010	Formula One	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	19	5	2	10	252	2nd
2011	Formula One	Scuderia Ferrari	19	1	0	10	257	4th
2012	Formula One	Scuderia Ferrari	20	3	2	13	278	2nd
2013	Formula One	Scuderia Ferrari	19	2	0	9	242	2nd

It's also stated that Sebastian Vettel is the man expected to replace Alonso at Ferrari, Sky Sports' Mike Wise having announced earlier this month that the current season would be the German's last for Red Bull.

The time remaining on Alonso's Ferrari deal complicates matters in terms of which team he'll represent next. When asked by NBC (h/t Sky Sports' James Galloway) whether he'd be driving with a McLaren in 2015, Alonso replied: “I don’t think so.”

BBC Sport even hints the 33-year-old could face a year out from the sport as his affairs are put in order, although it's difficult to believe that fate coming to fruition:

Alonso has managed to finish on the podium just twice this year and has the slimmest of hopes of managing a top-three finish. Should Daniel Ricciardo finish fourth or higher in next month's United States Grand Prix, even that will be out of reach.

During his title drought in recent years, Ferrari's star has always managed podium prominence, but this season will see his lowest tally of top-three placements since 2009.

Shizuo Kambayashi/Associated Press

Should he fail to top the order in any of this year's final three races, it will be just the fourth time in his career Alonso hasn't won a calendar race—two of those coming in his first four years as a Formula One driver.

Di Montezemolo isn't aiding his former employer by revealing the truth behind Alonso's fate before it comes to pass, but it's been rumoured for some time that the two would be parting ways.

The fine details of Alonso's future are still yet to be decided, however, and his focus will assuredly remain fixed on the current campaign, despite all the distractions impeding his vision.