Alonso's Renault farewell.

FORMULA ONE FERNANDO ALONSO is steeling himself for an emotional farewell to Renault this weekend.

Alonso faces his last grand prix with the team ahead of his big-money move to Ferrari, ending a two-year association.

It is the second time the Spaniard will be saying his goodbyes as he faced a similar situation in 2006 after winning back-to-back world titles with Renault prior to his ill-fated move to McLaren.

Ahead of the season-ending inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Alonso said: "I would love to finish the season and my Renault career with a great result.

"It will be an emotional race because I have enjoyed so many special memories with this team, and I am leaving behind a lot of friends.

"Renault is one of the great teams in Formula One, and I look forward to fighting with them on the track in the years ahead."

Paying tribute to Alonso, team principal Bob Bell remarked: "He's made a huge contribution to the team, especially winning two world championships in 2005 and 2006 so he will be missed enormously.

"It's often said he is the best driver on the grid, and I wouldn't disagree with that, so we're understandably sad to see the end of our very successful relationship.

"But we're also looking forward and we're all delighted to be welcoming Robert Kubica to the team as I believe he will quickly show that he is of the same calibre as Fernando.

"He's a strong team player, a great motivator and incredibly quick, so we have plenty to look forward to as we enter a new era for the team."

CAPTION(S):

Driver Fernando Alonso