FERNANDO ALONSO has admitted to joining Ferrari a year earlier than initially agreed.

Alonso has signed a three-year deal from next season reputed to be worth £55m, still £20m shy of the pay Kimi Raikkonen is understood to have earned with the team over the last three years.

Nevertheless, the double world champion now has the drive he has craved and a chance to add to the titles he won with Renault in 2005 and 2006.

However, after initially signing with the Scuderia this summer to start in 2011, Alonso will leave Renault at the end of this year.

‘‘I’m very happy and very proud to become a Ferrari driver,’’ said Alonso.

‘‘Driving a single-seater from the Prancing Horse is everybody’s dream in this sport, and now I have the opportunity to make this dream come true.

‘‘Above all I want to thank Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo, who really wanted this three-year contract.

‘‘We had an agreement this summer, starting in 2011, but then over the last few days the picture changed and we decided to anticipate my arrival in Maranello by one year.’’ The picture referred to by Alonso is Raikkonen apparently agreeing to return to McLaren, which is likely to be confirmed ahead of Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.

Alonso will now partner Felipe Massa at Ferrari, with Giancarlo Fisichella – currently standing in for the injured Brazilian – to take up the role of test and reserve driver.