Former Ferrari president, Luca di Montezemolo has confirmed that Fernando Alonso is to leave the team.

Montezemolo, who officially left the company on Monday, the day after the Spaniard finished sixth in the Russian Grand Prix, gave the game away in an interview with Italy's RAI.

"Fernando is leaving for two reasons," he said. "One, because he wants to experience a change of scene, and two, because he's at an age where he can't wait around to win more titles.

"He's disappointed because he hasn't won in recent years and wants a new challenge," added the Italian.

In a separate interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Montezemolo who hands over the reins of the legendary Italian company to Sergio Marchionne, looked back with pride at the success the team achieved on his watch.

"We've won 14 world titles in 15 years since 1999. We won the 2000 World Championship in Japan with Michael Schumacher after 23 years. We're the team that has won the most in the whole world in recent years. We lost the title in the final race in 2008, 2010 and 2012. The really disappointing season was last year. But that's sport".

Montezemolo's comments come days after the Spaniard's cryptic comment that when his decision is made public people "will understand that probably it was very obvious what I would do".