Motor Sport: Felipe Massa has signed a contract extension at Ferrari until 2010, ending speculation linking Fernando Alonso with a move to the team.
Spaniard Alonso has been the subject of feverish speculation over his future since his public falling-out with McLaren boss Ron Dennis earlier this year, but Massa's new deal at the Scuderia firmly slams the door on the reigning two-time champion.
"Ferrari announces that it has extended its agreement with the driver Felipe Massa through to the end of the 2010 racing season," read a statement on the Ferrari website.
The announcement comes in the run-up to the season finale at Interlagos in Brazil on Sunday, and will give Massa a timely fillip ahead of his home race.
The 26-year-old is out of the title reckoning and will be forced to play second fiddle to team-mate Kimi Raikkonen this weekend, with the Finn embroiled in a three-way battle for the drivers'crown with Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.
Massa has been contracted to Ferrari since 2001 but was farmed out to the Sauber team for the 2002 and 2004-05 seasons.
He was handed the Ferrari race drive as team-mate to Michael Schumacher at the start of 2006, since when he has won five times in 34 races.