Fernando Alonso said he felt privileged to be a Ferrari driver after extending his contract with the Italian team ahead of this Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. The double world champion, who almost won the drivers' title in his first season with the Maranello-based outfit, is now set to drive for Ferrari until 2016.
Alonso, 29, said he felt privileged to be with Ferrari and that there was not a better team to be racing in. "It was good news for me and my career to extend the contract and get an extension to 2016." He said. "Also, as I said last year the intention is to finish my career with Ferrari. I don't imagine a better place to race for a racing driver. "I have been lucky to arrive here last year and I felt at home from day one and I have the possibility to race here until the end of 2016, so it will be seven years in Ferrari. "I am happy and privileged, and maybe in 2017 we will have another contract. I will see if I am not too old and if Ferrari still want me."
Alonso said he feels at home with Ferrari and that extending his contract seemed like the most natural thing to do. "It is not a big change in my mind, my head. It was already very clear that I wanted to race here for many years, and despite what the contract said, the stability was always 100% in my case. This was just a public confirmation, nothing changed inside the team."