Monday 2 June at 17:02 : Fernando Alonso has now added his denial to strong rumours that the former double world champion has signed a preliminary agreement to switch to Ferrari in 2010.

The rumour about the Spaniard, who currently drives for Renault, was heard more than once in the Monte Carlo paddock, but a Ferrari spokesman last week dismissed it as "absolute nonsense".

At the end of last week, however, Munich's TZ tabloid published speculation that current Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen may not intend to keep racing beyond 2009.

TZ also said 26-year-old Alonso's rumoured preliminary Ferrari agreement is in fact an 'option' that expires on the August weekend of the forthcoming Hungarian grand prix.

Alonso is quoted as denying to the Spanish newspaper Diario AS: "I have not talked to anyone, nor has anyone approached me."