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Now watch the rest of the pack shuffle!

Well, it has happened at last. The worst-kept secret in Formula One history is now official.

Fernando Alonso will start the 2010 season as a Ferrari driver, paired with Felipe Massa.

The writing was firmly on the wall as long ago as the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. That was when Santander Bank, the long-time sponsor who followed Alonso from Renault to McLaren, announced that in 2010 they would sponsor both Ferrari and McLaren teams.

Most industry insiders reckoned that would fund Alonso's move to Ferrari. However the Scuderia elected not to announce their future driver line-up at the time, because of Felipe Massa's condition following the Hungary accident.

Those of a charitable disposition will believe that the delay was to ensure undue pressure wasn't put on the recuperating Brazilian.

More likely, cynics like I think, they were hedging their bets in case Felipe was unfit to race; in which case they would have honoured the final year of Raikkonen's contract.

Now, although no official announcement has yet been made, it will only be a matter of days before the Santander money smoothes the way for Kimi to join Hamilton at McLaren. And that, I believe will be not just good, but BRILLIANT for us Formula One fans.

It will set up a fantastic, if potentially highly explosive environment in the team. You simply couldn't have a greater contrast between smooth-talking, urbane Hamilton and the hard-line, racer Kimi. I think it will be a clash of contrasts that could propel either driver to the 2010 title.

Don't just take my word for it. This is what top F1 photographer and insider Darren Heath had to say of Kimi. "He doesn't do PR, he doesn't do polished, we haven't seen his wife for ages, and I can't imagine having to step over a slumped-on-the-floor Lewis to get to my hotel room the morning after the race - as I had to with Kimi in Montreal a few years back.

"That, though, is part of the appeal of the man. He does his thing, he fights with photographers, he enjoys a drink or three, and he gets in a race car and drives its nuts off."

We know that Alonso is already planning a Schumacher-style ‘home team' to join him at Ferrari. Fernando is growing into a natural leader, and he has insisted as part of his deal that some of his favourite engineers from Renault and even McLaren, be invited to join him at Maranello.

Meanwhile, now that Alonso, the key in the lock of the 2010 driver market, has clicked into place. Who else goes where?

Well, watch for an announcement soon that Nico Rosberg, favoured by Mercedes, will join Jenson Button at Brawn next year.

I believe that Ross Brawn is more interested in the number one on his car than the British driver. If Barrichello pips Button to the title there might be a rethink. Otherwise the Brazilian could well be on his way to join Williams.

Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld may also be on the move from Sauber. My money puts one of them, maybe both, at Renault.

However former Renault driver Heikki Kovalainen could also be angling for a return. Rookie Romain Grosjean needs to make a compelling case for the French car maker to keep him on.

I will frankly be surprised if either Toyota driver remains with the team, which in itself may be considering a future away from F1. If it does stay for the 2010 season, watch for Kazuki Nakajima moving across from Williams.

Meanwhile it will shortly be open house in the driver market at Force India and Toro Rosso, not to mention the three new teams. I bet Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel are pretty relieved that they signed their contracts early with Red Bull!

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