Fernando Alonso is leaving Ferrari at the end of the season because he wants a fresh environment and needs to be winning again, the Formula One team’s ex-chairman Luca di Montezemolo said this week.

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 this month that he was leaving Red Bull at the end of the year.

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

“Fernando is leaving for two reasons,” Montezemolo told Italy’s RAI television.

“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.”

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.

Source: Reuters