Fernando Alonso said today his Formula One career would have been incomplete without a move to Ferrari and pledged to end his racing days with the team after signing a three-year deal worth £54million.

The 28-year-old, with two world titles and 21 race wins, is the most successful driver currently in F1 but admitted he felt something had been missing from his c.v.

“Ferrari was the perfect step for my career to be complete,” said Alonso.

“I won races, I won titles, I made pole positions, I've had great feelings for those nine years in F1.

“But I realised this little step, to drive a car from the Scuderia, was necessary for my career to be perfect, to be complete. Ferrari are more than a team.

I want to end my career there. Now I start for three years but perhaps I will stay longer if they still want me.”

Alonso will team up with Felipe Massa at Ferrari next season and admitted he had dreamt of driving for the Prancing Horse since moving to Italy as a child.

“I have a great story with all the Tifosi,” he said. “When I was just 12, I went to live in Italy to do my kart races. I learned the language and Italy has always remained strong in my heart. For me, it's the dream spot and it's not at all a risk whatever happened this season because they are the best there is in this little world of Formula One.”

Alonso is expected to have a fight with Massa on his hands for ascendancy at Ferrari, much like his solitary season at McLaren where he endured a fractious relationship with team-mate Lewis Hamilton. But he played down the chances of a similar war of words with his new colleague, who was runner-up in last season's title race.

“It will not happen again,” he said. “Felipe is a great driver and has a very good personality. It will be fine and we will both work for the team to score points for the team. All that matters is that people see a Ferrari out front.”

Alonso's move has been compared to the switch made by Michael Schumacher, who joined from
Benetton in 1996 when also a two-time world champion. The German claimed another five titles at Ferrari and Alonso admitted: “I'd like to do the same and win many championships but I think it's going to be very, very difficult.”

The deal went through after Ferrari paid off the final year of Kimi Raikkonen's contract. The Finn has been linked with a return to McLaren.

While Alonso hogged the limelight in Suzuka today, the focus soon will be on Jenson Button and his title battle with team-mate Rubens Barrichello once practice for the Japanese Grand Prix begins at the circuit tomorrow.

Button will win the title if he gains a further five points on Barrichello on Sunday but the Briton insisted he was not fussed about wrapping it up with two races remaining.

“As a kid, you want to race in Formula One and you dream of being world champion. ” said Button. “My dream is not necessarily to win it in Suzuka but to win it full stop. Needing five points on a team-mate when he's in his prime is very difficult. That's a big margin, so for me to get motivated is not hard.”