Fernando Alonso has committed his future to Ferrari until the end of 2016 after signing a new contract with the Italian team.

9592 - Alonso commits to Ferrari until end of 2016

Alonso joined Ferrari for the start of 2010 after a difficult two years at Renault and a troubled time at McLaren in 2007. He came within four points of the title in his first season at the team and, despite a slow start to 2011, expects to see out his career at Maranello.

"I am very happy to have reached this agreement," he said. "I immediately felt comfortable within Ferrari and now it feels to me like a second family. I have the utmost faith in the men and women who work in Maranello and in those who lead them: it is therefore natural for me to decide to extend my relationship in the long term like this, with a team at which I will no doubt end my Formula One career one day."

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said he was delighted to have the two-time world champion onboard.

"It is a great pleasure to have renewed our agreement with a driver who has always demonstrated a winning mentality even in the most difficult circumstances," he said. "Fernando has all the required qualities, both technically and personally to play a leading role in the history of Ferrari and I hope he will be enriching it with further wins very soon."