Alonso will look to stay up on the Prancing Horse

The Spaniard wants to finish his career at Ferrari and create a legacy but the former double world champion admits he cannot match Schumacher's record.

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has fulfilled his lifelong ambition of wearing the Ferrari red.

In finally wearing the Ferrari red, Fernando Alonso has fulfilled a lifelong ambition and does not expect to wear any other team colours for the rest of his career. The two-time world champion made his first official appearance for the team yesterday and immediately enamoured himself to their following as he announced he wanted more titles before retiring from racing while at the Italian team.

"Coming to Ferrari is the best any driver can do in their career. I think Ferrari is more than just a Formula One team," said Alonso, who, after constant speculation, signed a three-year contract to replace Kimi Raikkonen. "For me, what is missing are more world championships. I still miss that. "I've thought a lot about finishing first. At the end of 2009 we were not capable of fighting for anything important with Renault so my thoughts were already on 2010.

"I thought about having a great championship season with Ferrari and enjoying a lot of success - and to change my life too. I'm not going to race in Formula One for the rest of my life. "This is surely going to be my last time, to have success and leave a nice flavour. In future years, I hope to leave this team with as much success as possible. "There are many expectations and plenty of motivation from me and the team; for this year and the future.

"But I am more prepared now than in the past. I feel more ready than I did at McLaren and when I won the two world championships at Renault." In the picturesque surrounding of the Dolomites for the Wrooom event, hosted by Ferrari sponsor Marlboro in Italy, Alonso, 29, looked completely at ease. Even a fall while skiing did not dampen his mood - ironically on the Schumacher Slope, named after the former Ferrari hero.

But he will be hoping not to falter when he comes up against Michael Schumacher on the track. The German is making his comeback with Mercedes GP after retiring in 2006 when Alonso beat him to the title. "That could be motivation for him," added Alonso. "We had been rivals in those last two years, intense rivals in 2006. Now I am at Ferrari, where he won so much, it's also motivation for me to enjoy the feelings he had in front of the fans.

"I am happy he is returning, happy for the sport. Michael has raced at the highest level and to stay home is not easy for a competitor such as him. The adrenaline to race at this level is high and it's difficult to go back to zero. Michael has shown he was one of the best. It doesn't matter if you are 31 or 41, your competitiveness does not go." All eyes will be on Schumacher when he does return for the season-opener in Bahrain on March 14.

Alonso says it will be "nearly impossible" to emulate the veteran's record of seven world titles. But a championship in his debut season at Ferrari, just like Raikkonen achieved in 2007, is the target. Stefano Domenicali, the team principal, said Alonso can win if he has the right car. And the driver laughed: "If the boss said this then I have to say the same. "I have to start well with the boss. I know I have to adjust quickly to the car and the first two or three races I won't be 100 per cent adjusted to the car and team. But from race four you will see the best version of Alonso and the Ferrari."

@Email:[e-mail]