Fernando Alonso had doubts about a long-term future at Ferrari in 2013 and says the team knew he could walk if it failed to give him a competitive car this season.
On Thursday Ferrari confirmed that Alonso will not be driving for the Italian team next season, which has been widely known in the paddock for several weeks.
Alonso still had two years left to run on his deal but came to a "common consent" to split in September after the Spaniard decided he no longer wanted to drive for the team.
Alonso says he entered the 2014 season and the new turbo era with caution but is grateful Ferrari honoured his wish to leave the team.
"There was not one special moment of the year that opened my eyes," Alonso said.
"Last year I had some doubts about 2014. I knew there was a big change of regulations so I thought it was best to check how the new turbo era was going for Ferrari. I have a very close relationship with [former] president [Luca] Di Montezemolo; we talk every week and we more or less agreed that if this year we were not competitive again maybe I could think of other options.
"When I arrived in the summer break I thought maybe it was time to sit with the president and say, if it was OK with them, I would like to go. I need to thank Ferrari so much because they could have said no but they understood it was best for the two parties and this is a true sign of respect and love for this team, and they showed me respect on that. I stop as a Ferrari driver but from Monday I am a Ferrari supporter."
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