Alonso: Ferrari the safest bet in F1

The Maranello squad, last year's constructors' champions, finished in fourth place this year after scoring just one victory.

Ferrari stopped the development of this year's car early in order to focus on 2010, when Alonso will join the Italian squad from Renault.

Despite Ferrari's poor season, however, Alonso remains confident the team will challenge for the titles again next season.

"You have to try to be optimistic by nature," Alonso told Cadena Ser radio. "I think what makes me calm is that going to Ferrari is a synonym of quietness, because you know they are giving their best.

"It's a team and a marque born for competition and so you know they are going to give it all for their car, and you know that Ferrari is usually among the first.

"Sometimes they win titles, sometimes they don't, but they never have a year that's too bad. I think going to Ferrari is the safest option for any driver.

"Out of the 20-22 drivers no one knows what things will be like next year, it's all again a big question mark and we'll see how the new cars perform.

"But I think being at Ferrari, or McLaren, or in good teams, gives you more peace of mind than at any other team because anything can happen."

The Spaniard, who also endured a difficult season in 2009, believes he and Felipe Massa will form a strong partnership next year.

"All I heard from the team is that he is completely recovered and that he will be my team-mate. I think together we can have a very strong team," the Spaniard added.

"Massa has shown he is a very fast driver, that he has grown up a lot in the two or three years and I think we can challenge the strongest teams like McLaren or Red Bull."