Surprise! Alonso will be at big Ferrari event

The big — big? I don’t know — news coming out of Maranello today is that savior, I mean new driver Fernando Alonso will be attending Ferrari’s big end-of-the-season event, the Ferrari World Finals.

I think just as interesting is that the event, for the first time, will be held outside of Italy. Can you guess where?

That’s right! Valencia!

This makes all this “big news” and the thanks that Ferrari boss Stefano Dominicali gives to Renault seem a little disingenuous. Just saying.

Although, I think we can at least chalk this news up as a positive on the “will Renault stay in F1″ chart. Had the team played tough and not let Alonso slip from his contract, it isn’t hard to imagine the calls that would have been coming from Maranello to Jean Todt’s mobile phone.

Here’s the release:

Alonso at the World Finals in Valencia

Maranello, 13 November 2009 – Last Friday was Fernando Alonso’s first working day at Maranello and today, there is more good news for all Ferrari fans. They will be able to welcome the Ferrari neophyte next Sunday in Valencia, where for the first time, the Ferrari World Finals, the event which traditionally brings to a close the Maranello marque’s racing season, takes place outside Italy.

“We are pleased that Fernando will be able to attend what, for us, is a very important event,” said Stefano Domenicali. “It will be a great opportunity for all our fans who will be able to give him a warm welcome and for Fernando, who, for the first time, will be able to see and experience an insider’s view of the world of Ferrari. I wish to thank the Renault F1 Team for making it possible for Fernando to be in Valencia; a generous gesture which is much appreciated.”

Anyone see this as a big deal, beyond maybe the start to branding Ferrari more thoroughly in Spain — which is not insignificant.

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